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fractostratus [1 record]

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Alphabetical list of terms

Record 1 2003-04-09

English

Subject field(s)
  • Atmospheric Physics
DEF

A stratus cloud presenting a ragged, shredded appearance, as if torn.

CONT

Fractostratus - Fs. The prefix 'Fracto' basically means broken or fractured. Thus, Fractostratus clouds are relatively low-level uniform grey clouds that are beginning to break up with increased low level winds.

CONT

Fractostratus Clouds. ... are small, thin, unorganized tatters that typically condense in the moisture beneath nimbostratus or cumulonimbus clouds. ... The bases of these clouds are usually found near the ground to around 6,500 feet.

CONT

... fractostratus: ... Almost always composed of water droplets.

OBS

Fractostratus Clouds. ... [Aircraft] pilots often refer to these clouds as "scud".

OBS

... fractostratus ... are also called SCUD clouds if they are below another deck of higher clouds as in this picture.

OBS

"Scud" is a popular term used by storm observers for shredded cloud material (fractus) of all types.

OBS

Fractostratus ... differs from a fractocumulus cloud in having a smaller vertical extent and darker color.

OBS

fractus (fra): ... This term applies only to Stratus and Cumulus.

Key term(s)
  • fracto stratus
  • fracto-stratus
  • fracto stratus cloud
  • fracto-stratus cloud

French

Domaine(s)
  • Physique de l'atmosphère
DEF

Nuages très sombres et très déchiquetés, qu'on voit courir sur le fond gris du ciel.

CONT

[...] La zone centrale ou corps du système nuageux qui est la partie la plus active où l'on trouve des vents forts et des nuages épais (2 000 à 4 000 m d'épaisseur) du genre altostratus, nimbostratus et parfois cumulonimbus, générateurs de pluies et doublés de nuages déchiquetés paraissant courir sous les précédents, les fractostratus [...]

Key term(s)
  • fracto-stratus
  • fracto stratus

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Física de la atmósfera
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