Orographic Cloud Formations
This is a mountain-wave cloud formation after a frontal passage. A great example of an orograhic cloud formation, it formed from a standing air wave off of the Appalachian Mountains.
Image By: Justin Reid 7/14/2007
An explanatory process does provide a keener insight on newer things to other people. In atmospherics, there are many such strange phenomenon that can create a dizzying array of wonderful and dreadful effects.
One of these effects is a simple cloud formation. Though this class of cloud doesn't appear normal such as a run-of-the-mill cumulus formation. These clouds are the orographic clouds or clouds that are formed from wind blowing over landforms. The landforms create a flow pattern in the air that creates stationary waves in the local atmosphere. High winds must be prevalent in order to see such clouds in their true variety and size.
Here are some examples of orographic cloud formations, which mostly form at the mid-levels of the atmosphere.
Altocumulus Lenticularis, Photo by: Justin Reid 7/10/2007
Unique orographic formation, Image by Justin Reid 7/11/2007
All of the images above are orographic in nature. Each are smooth and sloping; not ragged and lumpy. The lens-shaped "UFO cloud" is called Altocumulus Lenticularis another type of orographic cloud is the mountain or Sierra wave. Some orographic cloud formations are as unique as snowflakes and have no distiction. All of these formations however, form from standing air waves from land formations.
A mountain wave after sunset that fomed after a frontal passage.
Image by: Justin Reid 7/11/2007
I hope that this explanation of orographic cloud formations is informative. I hope that on a winter or windy day when you see smooth and unusually-shaped clouds, I hope you can recognize how they form, and what they truly are. Orographic clouds are one of the atmosphere's more interesting formations in my opinion
An unusual orographic formation that formed in the late evening after a frontal passage. A mountain wave sculpted this cloud from leftover moisture and materialized from the lower pressure of the wave.
Image by: Justin Reid 7/11/2007
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