AstronomyEarthSky | Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds look like ocean waves

EarthSky | Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds look like ocean waves

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View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Lori Mendez in Saint Helena, California, captured these Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds on November 13, 2023. Lori wrote: “All the time lovely sunsets from my work view. Leaving work tonight, everybody was taking photos of those clouds. I’ve by no means seen clouds like this. I posted to Fb and somebody despatched your hyperlink saying what they’re referred to as.” Thanks, Lori!

Clouds that appear to be waves are uncommon and exquisite. These clouds – often called Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds, billow clouds, or shear-gravity clouds – might need been the inspiration for Van Gogh’s portray Starry Night. The subsequent time you notice one among these outstanding wave clouds, seize {a photograph} and submit it to us!

Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds are named for Lord Kelvin and Hermann von Helmholtz, who studied the physics of the instability that results in the sort of cloud formation. A Kelvin-Helmholtz instability kinds the place there’s a velocity distinction throughout the interface between two fluids: for instance, wind blowing over water.

The best way to see Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds

When would possibly you get to see these lovely clouds? Your odds are higher on windy days, when there’s a distinction in densities of the air – for instance, throughout a temperature inversion – when heat air flows over cooler air. You’re additionally extra prone to see these clouds close to dawn or sundown, one other time when the underside of the clouds are cooler and the air above is hotter. The clouds tackle this wave form when the air above is shifting extra shortly than the air under, pushing over the tops of the clouds and creating the rolling wave look. As you might need guessed, Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds are an indication that plane within the space will likely be experiencing turbulence.

A view down at the clouds from an airplane. A gap in the clouds near the center then shows clouds with the tops like waves right above the gap.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | EarthSky’s personal Raul Cortes captured these Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds from an airplane close to Amsterdam on February 21, 2023. See the wave-shaped clouds above the hole? Thanks, Raul!

Wave clouds from the EarthSky group

A dark scene with hay bales in front and a row or white rolling clouds in the background.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Karen Gord in Mosheim, Tennessee, captured these wave clouds on November 15, 2023. Karen wrote: “A frosty, crisp 29-degree morning. The clouds caught my consideration out the window. Stunning. By no means seen this earlier than.” Thanks, Karen!
A sky with the colors of sunrise and dark clouds shaped like waves.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Linda Okay. Tilley in Wyoming captured these Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds on November 11, 2023. Thanks, Linda!
A wavy ocean with dark clouds back by the horizon also shaped like waves.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Kevin Horath took this picture on October 12, 2023. Kevin wrote: “Whereas crusing off the coast of Maine, I noticed clouds that appeared like waves.” Thanks, Kevin!

Extra photographs of Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds

Dark sky with an orange strip through the middle and wave-like formations below.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Early on the morning of Might 23, 2021, Angus Weller noticed these Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds over the Coastal Mountain Vary simply north of Vancouver, British Columbia. Angus mentioned: “It’s solely the 2nd time I’ve seen this cloud formation.” Thanks, Angus!
Wavelike clouds in shades of blue with fog in front and evergreens sticking out at one side.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Michelle Berger in Sandpoint, Idaho, captured this picture of Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds on December 27, 2020. She wrote: “We have been driving house one night in December, 2 days after Christmas, and noticed this lovely picture within the sky east of our approach house.” Thanks, Michelle!
Wavelike clouds at twilight, above a mountain landscape.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Suzanne Kelley of Littleton, Colorado, caught these Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds – clouds that appear to be ocean waves – at sundown over the Rocky Mountains on New 12 months’s Eve, December 31, 2019. Thanks, Suzanne!
Kelvin-Helmholtz: Ocean-wavelike clouds in a golden sky.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Matty Hammersley within the UK wrote: “Taken by my spouse Ems while I used to be driving south on M5, south of Birmingham/Black Nation in direction of Worcestershire space.” The picture is from round sundown, on March 28, 2022. The clouds are often called Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds. Thanks, Matty!

Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds from 2 sides of Earth

These photographers each captured Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds on the identical day, from two sides of Earth.

Wave clouds above the tree line.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Tim Hunter in Waitara, Taranaki, New Zealand, captured this picture of wave clouds on October 6, 2021. He wrote: “Was chatting to my father on the telephone in my lounge, stood up from the sofa, appeared out the window and noticed 2 waves and extra forming. The formations lasted a couple of minute and a half earlier than fading away. It was a wonderful sight. One I’ll by no means get to witness once more.” Thanks, Tim!
White wave clouds over brown earth.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Julie Hinder in Slapton, Devon, United Kingdom, captured this picture of wave clouds on October 6, 2021. Thanks, Julie!

Wave clouds on different planets

Gray background clouds with row of very round, delicate wave clouds.
Earth isn’t the one planet with Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds. Right here they’re on Saturn; Jupiter has them, too. Picture through Wikimedia Commons.

Backside line: Clouds that appear to be waves throughout the sky are often called Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds. These clouds type from winds shifting at two completely different speeds.



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