Physical constitution

(Section 2.3.6.7)

Nimbostratus generally covers a wide area and is of great vertical extent. It is composed of water droplets (sometimes supercooled) and raindrops, of snow crystals and snowflakes, or of a mixture of these liquid and solid particles. The high concentration of particles and the great vertical extent of the cloud prevent direct sunlight from being observed through it. The cloud produces rain, snow or ice pellets, which do not necessarily reach the ground.