What type of air mass is most likely to produce stratus clouds?

Stratus clouds are typically associated with stable air masses. In stable conditions, vertical air movement is limited, which allows for the development of these layered clouds. When an air mass is stable, it tends to promote a gradual uplift of the air, resulting in the moisture condensing into a uniform layer of clouds that can cover large areas. This lack of turbulence is conducive to the formation of stratus clouds, which often appear as a thick, gray blanket in the sky, often leading to overcast conditions.

In contrast, unstable air masses facilitate vertical development and more vigorous convective activity, leading to cumulus or cumulonimbus cloud formations rather than uniform layers. Similarly, dry air masses would have reduced humidity and are less likely to produce clouds at all. Cold air masses can contribute to cloud formation, but they do not necessarily lead specifically to the formation of stratus clouds unless other conditions, such as stability and moisture, are also present.