Clouds composed of water droplets that exhibit no or have very little vertical development The density of the droplets often blocks sunlight, casting shadows on the earth's surface Bases of these clouds are generally no more than 6,000 feet above the ground They are classified as low clouds, and include all varieties of stratus and stratocumulus The opposite in type are the vertical development of cumuliform clouds
Having extensive horizontal development, as opposed to the more vertical development characteristic of convection Stratiform clouds cover large areas but show relatively little vertical development Stratiform precipitation, in general, is relatively continuous and uniform in intensity (i e , steady rain versus rain showers)