高層雲(こうそううん)

こうそううん
noun
altostratus; mid-level cloud layer
weatherscience
1. altostratus; mid-level cloud layer
A type of cloud forming a uniform gray or blue-gray sheet at middle altitudes (roughly 2,000–7,000 meters), often indicating approaching rain.
空(そら)が高層雲(こうそううん)に覆(おお)われている。
The sky is covered by altostratus clouds.
高層雲(こうそううん)が広(ひろ)がると雨(あめ)が近(ちか)いことが多(おお)い。
When altostratus spreads, rain is often approaching.
天気予報(てんきよほう)では午後(ごご)から高層雲(こうそううん)が厚(あつ)くなり、夕方(ゆうがた)には雨(あめ)になると伝(つた)えていた。
The weather forecast said the altostratus would thicken from the afternoon and turn to rain by evening.

One of the ten basic cloud types classified by the World Meteorological Organization. Composed of 高層(こうそう) (high level) and 雲(うん) (cloud). Despite the name containing 高(こう) (high), 高層雲(こうそううん) forms at middle altitudes. The name reflects an older Japanese classification system.

Common collocations

Related words

  • 巻層雲(けんそううん) — cirrostratus (higher-altitude thin cloud layer)
  • 乱層雲(らんそううん) — nimbostratus (rain-bearing cloud layer)
  • 積乱雲(せきらんうん) — cumulonimbus (thundercloud)
  • 雲(くも) — cloud (general term)

Related Words

Related: 積乱雲(せきらんうん) (cumulonimbus)
general
Added 2026.4.30 20:32 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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