<p>According to the WMO, your answer is as follows. (Note that you can use the width of your little finger held at arms length to estimate one degree and the width of three  fingers held together at arms length to estimate five degrees.) </p>

<p>Altocumulus is distinguished from Stratocumulus by: </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Most of the regularly arranged elements having, when observed at an
  angle of more than 30° above the horizon, an apparent width between 1
  and 5°<br>
  Absence of any precipitation; Stratocumulus can have weak falls
  of rain, snow or snow pellets</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Or...</p>

<p>Stratocumulus is distinguished from Altocumulus by:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Most of the regularly arranged elements having, when observed at an
  angle of more than 30° above the horizon, an apparent width greater
  than 5°<br>
  Possible precipitation in the form of weak falls of rain or
  snow</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-09T09:40:54.833Z
2020-03-09T10:41:24.100Z
2020-03-09T10:41:24.100Z
resplaine
<p>You are not alone. Allmost everyone has difficulty differentiating Ac from Sc because, apart from the obvious low clouds, you can't accurately discern a cloud's height purely from looking at it. For that you need a 'ceilometer', which is a vertical beam of light reflected off the cloud-base. Not many met sites have this. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-15T15:11:37.640Z
Not exactly the answer I was looking for, but thanks, at least I know I'm not alone :) I'll still give you credit, but I found my answer elswhere. Would you want to add it to your post? http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Atmosphere/clouds/stratocumulus.html&edu=elem
KKZiomek
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-15T15:19:58.563Z
@KKZiomek; you mean *"If the cloud is about the size of your fist, then it is stratocumulus"*? That's a nice (very!) rough guide line, but Gordon's answer is still correct; very often you can't distinguish Ac from Sc.
Bart
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-02T10:48:49.277Z
@KKZiomek This meteorologist also agrees with Gordon (and Bart) as well.  At some point cloud categorization has its limitations in both stratification and use, and this is about the area where it seems so to me in most circumstances.  But hope that distinction did at least give you a good way to choose. :-)
JeopardyTempest
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-15T04:38:44.710Z
2016-06-15T08:47:14.333Z
2016-06-15T08:47:14.333Z
Gordon Stanger
<p>There are four different categories of clouds. High clouds, medium altitude clouds, lower clouds, and vertical tall clouds. They are broken down into ten genuses of clouds: Cirrus, Cirrocumulus, Cirrostratus, Altocumulus, Altostratus, Stratocumulus, Cumulus, Stratus, Cumulonimbus, and Nimbostratus. </p>

<p>Additionally there are 14 species, 9 types, and 9 additional phenomenons like Virga or Mammatus, but these are not really important in my question.</p>

<p>I find it troublesome to distinguish the Altocumulus, Stratocumulus and Cumulus clouds from each other. The hardest to distinguish in my opinion are the Stratocumulus and Altocumulus clouds. Even though I know, Ac are higher clouds than Sc, it is most of the time hard for me.</p>

<p>Can anyone point out any differences that would help me distinguish these genuses of clouds?</p>

<atmosphere><clouds>
How to distinguish between Altocumulus, Stratocumulus and Cumulus clouds?
KKZiomek
# How to distinguish between Altocumulus, Stratocumulus and Cumulus clouds?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-06-15)

There are four different categories of clouds. High clouds, medium altitude clouds, lower clouds, and vertical tall clouds. They are broken down into ten genuses of clouds: Cirrus, Cirrocumulus, Cirrostratus, Altocumulus, Altostratus, Stratocumulus, Cumulus, Stratus, Cumulonimbus, and Nimbostratus.

Additionally there are 14 species, 9 types, and 9 additional phenomenons like Virga or Mammatus, but these are not really important in my question.

I find it troublesome to distinguish the Altocumulus, Stratocumulus and Cumulus clouds from each other. The hardest to distinguish in my opinion are the Stratocumulus and Altocumulus clouds. Even though I know, Ac are higher clouds than Sc, it is most of the time hard for me.

Can anyone point out any differences that would help me distinguish these genuses of clouds?

**Tags:** atmosphere, clouds


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-06-15. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

You are not alone. Allmost everyone has difficulty differentiating Ac from Sc because, apart from the obvious low clouds, you can't accurately discern a cloud's height purely from looking at it. For that you need a 'ceilometer', which is a vertical beam of light reflected off the cloud-base. Not many met sites have this.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Not exactly the answer I was looking for, but thanks, at least I know I'm not alone :) I'll still give you credit, but I found my answer elswhere. Would you want to add it to your post? http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Atmosphere/clouds/stratocumulus.html&edu=elem  
> **username_3**: @username_0; you mean *"If the cloud is about the size of your fist, then it is stratocumulus"*? That's a nice (very!) rough guide line, but username_2's answer is still correct; very often you can't distinguish Ac from Sc.  
> **username_4**: @username_0 This meteorologist also agrees with username_2 (and username_3) as well.  At some point cloud categorization has its limitations in both stratification and use, and this is about the area where it seems so to me in most circumstances.  But hope that distinction did at least give you a good way to choose. :-)  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2020-03-09. Score: 1

According to the WMO, your answer is as follows. (Note that you can use the width of your little finger held at arms length to estimate one degree and the width of three fingers held together at arms length to estimate five degrees.)

Altocumulus is distinguished from Stratocumulus by:

> Most of the regularly arranged elements having, when observed at an
> angle of more than 30° above the horizon, an apparent width between 1
> and 5°  
> Absence of any precipitation; Stratocumulus can have weak falls
> of rain, snow or snow pellets

Or...

Stratocumulus is distinguished from Altocumulus by:

> Most of the regularly arranged elements having, when observed at an
> angle of more than 30° above the horizon, an apparent width greater
> than 5°  
> Possible precipitation in the form of weak falls of rain or
> snow


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