While clouds can appear in a variety of shapes and sizes, they are categorized into four primary types: high, middle, low, and multi-level. These types are classified based on their altitude within the troposphere, the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere.
- High clouds (Cirro-) are found at the highest elevations, typically above 6,000 meters (20,000 feet). They are usually composed of ice crystals.
- Middle clouds (Alto-) are located between 2,000 and 6,000 meters (6,500 and 20,000 feet) and can be composed of both ice and water droplets.
- Low clouds (Strato-) are situated below 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) and are mainly composed of water droplets.
- Multi-level clouds include cumulus (puffy, cotton-like) and nimbus (rain-producing) clouds, which can extend vertically through multiple layers.
Therefore, the number of cloud layers is not fixed and depends on the specific atmospheric conditions. While there are four main cloud types based on altitude, there can be multiple layers of clouds within each type, resulting in a layered appearance in the sky.
