Are stratus or cirrus clouds found at a higher altitude?
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Cirrus clouds
Cirrus clouds are high-level, wispy clouds made mostly of ice crystals, while stratus clouds usually form in low, flat layers and can make the sky look gray or overcast. Meteorologists commonly group clouds by altitude: high-level clouds often occur above about 20,000 feet, middle-level clouds use the alto- prefix, and low-level clouds often occur below about 6,500 feet. The cirro- prefix signals high clouds, while the nimb- root signals rain or precipitation. Related cloud types include cirrostratus, high sheetlike clouds that can make halos around the Sun or Moon; altostratus, middle-level gray or blue-gray sheets; nimbostratus, low sheetlike clouds that can produce steady rain or snow; fog, a ground-level cloud that reduces visibility; and cumulonimbus, vertically developed thunderstorm clouds that can extend from low levels to high altitudes.
- What wispy, ice-crystal clouds are typically found at high altitudes?