Wave-like Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds

Categories: Nature |

We continue to acquaint you with unusual forms of clouds. Next in our selection were the Kelvin-Helmholtz wave-like clouds. These clouds look like ocean waves crashing on the shore.

Named after German physicist Hermann von Helmholtz and British physicist Lord Kelvin, they form when two different layers of air pass each other at different speeds. The top layer moves faster than the bottom layer. Some areas at the interface (in the shear area) move down, while others move up. Wave-like clouds are usually a sure sign of atmospheric instability. Naturally, scientists observe such a phenomenon not only on our planet. Alas, it was not possible to geographically identify the images.

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Wave-like Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds

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Keywords: Atmosphere | Clouds

     

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