Monday, March 5, 2012

Rare Clouds: Lenticular Clouds


The rare cloud of today is the Lenticular Cloud. As stable moist air moves up a mountain range, it is sometimes difficult for the air to go down on the other side of the mountain. If this occurs and at the peak of this air, that has piled up, the temperature drops to the dew point the cloud is formed. As the then saturated air slowly sink down the mountain it evaporates and turns to vapor. Therefore the cloud is usually focused on the top of the mountain. These clouds don't always have to form over a mountain, they can also be seen along a frontal boundary with strong wind shear. Since these clouds have a roundish shape they are sometimes mistaken for a UFO.

(above is a lenticular cloud above Mt. Hood in Oregon)

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