How to identify silvagenitus clouds
A variation of a stratus cloud that's created through forest evaporation
With silva translated from latin meaning forest and genitus translated from latin meaning created from, the ‘silvagenitus’ clouds are only found in the stratus cloud type. The proper cloud classification abbreviation for this cloud type is ‘St sigen’. They describe a cloud that forms from a forest evaporation.
Silvagenitus cloud formations are found close to ground level and usually hang as featureless cloud wisps above a dense forest. These clouds are formed from evaporation (water turning into water vapor) or evapotranspiration (evaporation of water from plant leaves and soil). Should the cloud appear more ragged than a typical stratus cloud, it would be appropriate to give it the classification stratus fractus silvagenitus.
As a cloudspotter, you can increase your chances of seeing a silvagenitus cloud on humid or moist days, perhaps after a bit of precipitation has fallen.
