A stable air mass moving over a cold surface is associated with which weather characteristics?

A stable air mass that moves over a cold surface tends to lead to stratiform clouds and can cause poor visibility. When warm air interacts with a colder surface, it cools, increasing stability in the atmosphere. This stable air does not rise significantly, which leads to the formation of layered clouds known as stratiform clouds. These clouds typically develop more horizontally and are associated with steady, widespread precipitation rather than the convective activity that produces cumulus clouds.

Poor visibility is often a byproduct of stratiform cloud cover due to water droplets and moisture in the air, which can lead to conditions such as fog or low cloud bases. This is particularly common in stable air masses over cooler ground, which can trap moisture nearer to the surface.

In contrast, the other options describe clouds or weather conditions that are not typically associated with stability over cold surfaces. Cumuliform clouds indicate instability, thunderstorms suggest active vertical movement and turbulence, and clear skies with warm temperatures are also indicative of stable conditions, but not when directly moving over a cold surface.