News1 min ago
Curious Clouds
Not a question - I just thought I'd share. Quite amazing!
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I haven't read all of the links posted herein, but the full name of the cloud type is Alto Cumulus Standing Lenticular… simple meaning that the most significant aspect of the cloud (always formed over mountainous terrain) is they build as the air mass is lifted on the upwind side and dissipate as the air mass descends on the down wind side. Usually, the winds aloft are significant… probably in the 80 to 100 knot range.
We have them often here in the western U.S., primarily in the months of February and March.
Always a caution sign to aviators since, due to the high winds associated there's almost always significant turbulence. Not a pilot alive that I know, doesn't take and extra "tug" on his/her seat belt when entering such an area.
Additionally, glider pilots seek out such areas, at least on the upwind side, to extract the uplift energy for significant altitude gains… the clouds (as the name Alto Cumulus[i signifies, ) are formed in the middle range of about 8,000 to 25,000 feet, however, I've personally witnessed them in excess of 35,000 feet (MSL).
Having said that, sometimes another associated cloud type forms accompanying the lenticular which is a tightly formed [i]rotor] cloud, always on the downwind side, parallel to the ridge line and below the lenticulars and always avoided by several miles by all knowledgeable pilots due to the nearly destructive turbulence that they can produce...
We have them often here in the western U.S., primarily in the months of February and March.
Always a caution sign to aviators since, due to the high winds associated there's almost always significant turbulence. Not a pilot alive that I know, doesn't take and extra "tug" on his/her seat belt when entering such an area.
Additionally, glider pilots seek out such areas, at least on the upwind side, to extract the uplift energy for significant altitude gains… the clouds (as the name Alto Cumulus[i signifies, ) are formed in the middle range of about 8,000 to 25,000 feet, however, I've personally witnessed them in excess of 35,000 feet (MSL).
Having said that, sometimes another associated cloud type forms accompanying the lenticular which is a tightly formed [i]rotor] cloud, always on the downwind side, parallel to the ridge line and below the lenticulars and always avoided by several miles by all knowledgeable pilots due to the nearly destructive turbulence that they can produce...
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