Douglas Sherman
Staff
It is again time for some cloud images. Last week we did altocumulus. Let's do a popular variation of that cloud group. Today we will do altocumulus lenticularis. These clouds typically form over the tops of high mountains, especially volcanoes. These are caused by strong winds being uplifted over the mountains which then form waves. The clouds form in the crest of the wave where it is cold enough to cause condensation. The air is only cold enough to condense in the crest of the waves and as soon as it passes into a trough it warms up enough to make the cloud disappear. The result is a series of flying saucer shaped clouds which form directly above or on the lee side of the mountain (illustration below). Please pile on with your lenticular clouds or any others that you have.
This is one of my images of Mt. Rainier.
This is someone else's image of Mt. Fuji. I can tell you exactly how something like this forms, but let's see if anyone can figure it out.
Lenticular clouds over the mountains on Maui.
Lenticular cloud on the east side of the Sierra's near Mojave, CA.
This is one of my images of Mt. Rainier.
This is someone else's image of Mt. Fuji. I can tell you exactly how something like this forms, but let's see if anyone can figure it out.
Lenticular clouds over the mountains on Maui.
Lenticular cloud on the east side of the Sierra's near Mojave, CA.
