Which cloud type possesses characteristics of both stratus and cumulus clouds and often appears as closely spaced clusters or rolls of clouds, with clear sky in between?

• A. Stratocumulus
• B. Thicker and darker than, but similar in form to a stratus cloud.
• C. Cumulus
• D. Turbulence

Answer: (A)

Stratocumulus are low-level clouds that blend features of stratus and cumulus. They form a broad, layered field with rounded masses that often appear in closely spaced clusters or rolls, and you can see patches of clear sky between them. This combination—a sheet-like base with distinct, puffy elements and gaps of blue—fits the description best. It’s different from pure cumulus, which tends to be individual, isolated puffs, and from a uniform stratus layer, which covers more evenly with little break in the sky. The option describing turbulence isn’t a cloud type, so it doesn’t apply.