Cloud Images · Pexels · Free Stock Photos

Cloud formations in the sky can take on a variety of appearances, depending on a number of factors.. Clouds are more than just fluffy shapes in the sky; they tell us what's happening in the atmosphere; Scientists classify different types of clouds based on their height, shape and whether they bring fair weather or severe weather.

Tropospheric cloud classification by altitude of occurrence. Multi-level and vertical genus-types not limited to a single altitude level include nimbostratus, cumulonimbus, and some of the larger cumulus species. The list of cloud types groups all genera as high (cirro-, cirrus), middle (alto-), multi-level (nimbo-, cumulo-, cumulus), and low (strato-, stratus). These groupings are determined.. What Are Some Types of Clouds? Clouds are categorized primarily by two major factors - location and shape. High clouds form several kilometers up in the sky, with the exact height depending on the temperatures where they form. Low clouds generally form within a kilometer or two of Earth's surface. In fact, low clouds can even form touching the ground, when they are called fog. Middle-level.