stratiforme

Stratiforme is an adjective meaning layered or sheet-like, used in several disciplines to describe distributions, textures, or structures that occur in broad, horizontal sheets. In English the corresponding term is stratiform, while stratiforme is the form found in Italian and other Romance languages.

In meteorology, stratiforme describes clouds and precipitation that form extensive, uniform layers rather than tall, vertically developed columns. Stratiform clouds include stratus, altostratus, nimbostratus, and stratocumulus, often covering large areas with relatively even brightness. Stratiform precipitation is typically light to moderate and long-lasting, produced by gentle lifting in relatively stable air, in contrast to the more convective, intense rain associated with cumuliform systems.

In geology and economic geology, stratiforme (stratiform deposits) refers to ore bodies that are distributed in near-horizontal layers parallel to the bedding of the surrounding rock. They contrast with vein-type or discordant deposits. Stratiform ore deposits can form via sedimentary processes, chemical precipitation within basins, or mineralizing fluids that migrate along bedding planes. They often yield large tonnages and can include metals such as copper, zinc, and lead, among others.

The term can also describe any layered, sheet-like arrangement in rocks or other materials, reflecting a general sense of stratification or bedding.

Etymologically, stratiforme derives from Latin stratum, meaning layer, combined with the form suffix -form. It is used in multilingual contexts, with English using stratiform and Romance-language variants including stratiforme.