What is the rarest cloud formation?
Kelvin Helmholtz Waves
Kelvin Helmholtz Waves are perhaps the rarest cloud formation of all. Rumored to be the inspiration for Van Gogh’s masterpiece “Starry Night”, they are incredibly distinctive. They are mainly associated with cirrus, altocumulus, and stratus clouds over 5,000m.
What causes strange cloud formations?
The air above is moving faster than the air below. This temperature inversion, when warm air flows over cool air, creates a wave-like shape in the clouds. Physicists call this surreal, otherworldly sight an instability.
What is a lenticular cloud formation?
These lens-shaped orographic wave clouds form when the air is stable and winds blow across hills and mountains from the same or similar direction at different heights through the troposphere.
Are lenticular clouds rare?
If you don’t live in close proximation to mountains, you might think lenticular clouds are rare. But if you’re situated in a mountainous region, or on the leeward side of a mountain range, the chances of seeing lenticularis clouds increases significantly.
What do the clouds look like before a tornado?
A funnel cloud is usually visible as a cone-shaped or needle like protuberance from the main cloud base. Funnel clouds form most frequently in association with supercell thunderstorms, and are often, but not always, a visual precursor to tornadoes.
What are the worst clouds?
The following is a breakdown of ominous-looking clouds and whether there is imminent danger associated with them.
- Cumulonimbus Clouds.
- Scud Clouds.
- Shelf Clouds.
- Wall Clouds.
- Funnel Clouds.
- Tornadoes.
- Thunderstorm Anvil Clouds.
- Mammatus Clouds.
How are mammatus clouds formed?
How do mammatus clouds form? Mammatus clouds are usually formed in association with large cumulonimbus clouds. Typically, turbulence within the cumulonimbus cloud will cause mammatus to form, especially on the underside of the projecting anvil as it rapidly descends to lower levels.
What kind of clouds look like spaceships?
Lenticular clouds have been said to be mistaken for UFOs; as many of these clouds have the shape of a “flying saucer”, with a characteristic “lens” or smooth, “saucer-like” shape.
Why can’t you fly through a nimbus cloud?
It is often said that the turbulence can be extreme enough inside a cumulonimbus to tear an aircraft into pieces. Thus, cumulonimbus are known to be extremely dangerous to air traffic, and it is recommended to avoid them as much as possible.