Which type of clouds indicate a stable atmosphere?

Stratus clouds are associated with stable atmospheric conditions. In a stable atmosphere, vertical movements of air are suppressed, leading to more horizontal development of clouds. Stratus clouds form in layers, often resulting from gentle lifting of moist air that cools and condenses. This layering typically produces uniform cloud cover that brings steady, light precipitation rather than the turbulence often found with other cloud types, such as cumulus or nimbus clouds.

Cumulus clouds, for instance, usually develop in unstable atmospheres where warm air rises rapidly, leading to the formation of puffy clouds with vertical development. Nimbus clouds, commonly associated with stormy weather, indicate a more turbulent and unstable atmosphere. Fractus clouds are fragments of larger clouds, often indicating turbulent air rather than stability. Thus, stratus clouds are the best indicator of a stable atmosphere due to their flat, layered structure and the gentle lifting mechanisms associated with their formation.