Which term refers to mid-level clouds that cover the sky and bring steady precipitation?

Which term refers to mid-level clouds that cover the sky and bring steady precipitation?

• A. Nimbostratus
• B. Altostratus
• C. Cumulonimbus
• D. Stratus

Answer: (A)

Think about clouds that form a continuous, uniform sheet across the sky and deliver rain that lasts for a long time. That behavior matches the nimbostratus cloud. It creates a wide, featureless gray layer and yields steady precipitation, not a quick shower. Altostratus is also a mid-level cloud and can cover the sky, but it typically brings only light rain or drizzle and does not guarantee ongoing, heavy rainfall. Stratus are lower, layered clouds that often produce drizzle near the ground rather than widespread steady rain. Cumulonimbus are tall, towering clouds linked to intense thunderstorms with heavy downpours and sometimes hail; they are not the steady, all-day rain you described. Therefore, the term you're looking for is nimbostratus, a rain-bearing, broad cloud layer that covers much of the sky and produces continuous precipitation.

Think about clouds that form a continuous, uniform sheet across the sky and deliver rain that lasts for a long time. That behavior matches the nimbostratus cloud. It creates a wide, featureless gray layer and yields steady precipitation, not a quick shower. Altostratus is also a mid-level cloud and can cover the sky, but it typically brings only light rain or drizzle and does not guarantee ongoing, heavy rainfall. Stratus are lower, layered clouds that often produce drizzle near the ground rather than widespread steady rain. Cumulonimbus are tall, towering clouds linked to intense thunderstorms with heavy downpours and sometimes hail; they are not the steady, all-day rain you described. Therefore, the term you're looking for is nimbostratus, a rain-bearing, broad cloud layer that covers much of the sky and produces continuous precipitation.