"Dubbed a horseshoe vortex cloud by the Cloud Appreciation Society, this unique cloud formation arises when a flat cloud, typically originating as a small cumulus cloud, encounters a column of warm, ascending air called a thermal. The magic begins as the air rises, condensing within the cooler upper layers of the atmosphere, creating the distinctive horseshoe shape.As the thermal column warms, the air within rises at different speeds. The middle section of the cloud ascends more rapidly compared to the ends, giving the cloud its characteristic horseshoe or staple-like appearance. The varying updraft speeds contribute to a subtle spin, earning the cloud its classification as a vortex cloud. As the cloud reaches higher elevations, it encounters stronger winds, causing the top or middle section to spin faster and allowing the cloud to gracefully disperse.These captivating clouds have a relatively short lifespan, typically lasting less than 20 minutes. They most commonly manifest during the afternoon or evening hours when the sun’s warmth has sufficiently heated the lower atmosphere, generating thermals that give rise to these ephemeral spectacles."
Found at Hasan Jasim. You learn something every day.
Better than CGI!
ReplyDeleteIt's rather more like a Romex staple than a horseshoe.
ReplyDeleteI agree
DeleteYup, staple. Or maybe a wicket. In any case, this cloud stuff (observation) is very cool and ever more present in my life. Somehow more and more compelling within the ageing bit. The sky is redemptive. All that transcends the accumulation of earthly worries, baggage...yada, yada. Not only that, but whatever we humans do to this planet, clouds, sunsets, etc. will outlast us in some form or another. I take the same comfort in other inanimate phenomena, i.e. rock formations/boulders. Biological life is scarce beyond comprehension, while the universe is made up of lively clouds of stars. Our solar system has a radius of two light years and not much within that is biological, and yet, it's alive. I visit clouds every day I can and I miss them when the sky is clear.
DeleteI will have to keep an eye for those. "Romex staple" - great description!
ReplyDeleteWhen they say thermal I think of a rising air column roughly round in shape, but that Romex staple looks like it’s straddling a wall. Clouds are usually moving across the sky at some speed but I guess if the cloud was stationary or moving very slow the thermal could bushwhack it from below.
ReplyDeletexoxoxoBruce