October 4, 2014

nubbsgalore:

known informally as asperatus clouds, this atmospheric phenomenon gets its name from the latin aspero, which roman poets used to describe the sea as it was roughened by the cold north wind. 

though the cause of their formation remains unknown, it is likely that the undulating and lumpy underside is a result of warmer, moister air from above and colder, dryer air from below air meeting at the boundary between the lower and middle atmosphere.

when high level wind passes over rolling terrain, you get the same wavy effect as on the surface of water. but despite their ominous appearance, asperatus clouds tend to dissipate without a storm forming.

photos by (click pic) ken prior and allan gathman in perthshire, scotland; bryan and cherry alexander in qaanaaq, greenland; ti cranium in ohio; robert lurie in cape town, south africa; witta priester in new zealand; jesse klein in wisconsin

(via wondrousworld)

  1. angel-whis reblogged this from smokyangel
  2. hanahakeii reblogged this from strangerwinden
  3. strangerwinden reblogged this from payidaresque
  4. smartarchitech reblogged this from havingbeenbreathedout
  5. awesomesauce-n-sassypants reblogged this from billy-crudup
  6. yourlocalcorviddad reblogged this from starfirelily
  7. ephemeralmotif reblogged this from rouge-wall-enthusiast
  8. halfeticypressa reblogged this from thenightlystars
  9. thenightlystars reblogged this from billy-crudup
  10. tiredjoy reblogged this from rouge-wall-enthusiast
  11. rouge-wall-enthusiast reblogged this from billy-crudup
  12. payidaresque reblogged this from billy-crudup
  13. brokensoulbaby reblogged this from billy-crudup
  14. mrmarstumtum reblogged this from billy-crudup
  15. billy-crudup reblogged this from lucasgregorowicz
  16. ceftali reblogged this from herodiaz
  17. nubbsgalore posted this