How many types of Clouds are There?

The global standard for cloud classification is the World Meteorological Organization’s International Cloud Atlas, which lists 10 main types of clouds:
High-Level Clouds
☁️ Cirrus
☁️ Cirrocumulus
☁️ Cirrostratus
Mid-Level Clouds
☁️ Altocumulus
☁️ Altostratus
☁️ Nimbostratus
Low-Level Clouds
☁️ Cumulus
☁️ Cumulonimbus
☁️ Stratocumulus
☁️ Stratus

There are also other types of clouds, that generally fall outside of this classification system:
☁️ lenticular clouds
☁️ mammatus clouds
☁️ contrails (condensation trails produced by airplanes).

In the polar regions, the top of the troposphere is lower, so clouds are lower. In the tropics, the top of the troposphere is higher, so clouds are higher.

Sometimes researchers mention the four main types of clouds, referring to the classification by industrial chemist Luke Howard (1772-1864) who named three main types — cirrus, cumulus, and stratus — with a fourth special type called nimbus.

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