This wonderful cloud called a Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, appeared over Birmingham, Alabama this week.
The name is a combination from Lord Kelvin - a Scottish baron who along with German physicist Hermann Helmholtz - came up with an explanation for the freak occurrence.
It's also called a wave cloud and occurs in regions with vast plains where winds quickly change speed creating turbulence. A fast -moving lighter density cloud, usually a layer of Cirrus cloud, slides on top of a slower, thicker layer, dragging out the surface and creating a wave rolling over water effect.
For more lovely clouds here's the site to visit.
How amazing. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteCloud Appreciation - we haz it. x x
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Gotta love that it's called 'Kelvin'. Surely there's a matching Melvin somewhere too...
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic cloud! I've never seen anything like it.
ReplyDeleteEC, I could cloud watch all day and frequently do at the bus stop.
ReplyDeleteStacks, I ended up buying Gavin Prater-Pinney's book,lovely to dip into.
Kath, you'd be snowflake watching about now.
River, neither have I but I keep watching. We're not in the right area for it but I love watching a thunderstorm build.
It's like a whole flock of Lock Ness Monsters making threatening gestures!
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas Witchy!