The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
-Psalm 19:1

Do you know that God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?
-Job 37:15



Thursday, October 08, 2009

Lenticulars!

SKY WATCH FRIDAY time! Welcome all sky fans!!! I might not have time to respond to you, but I will try my best to visit!!!

Our hosts: Klaus Sandy Ivar Wren Louise Fishing Guy

Thanks, also,to Dot and Tom, who were instrumental in the success of this blogging event. You should definitely come fly with us! Once again, I am sharing some of the beauty that our great God blessed me with...

Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
I have never seen lenticular clouds before, the lens or saucer shaped clouds that generally form over or around mountains. I live in south Georgia. There are no mountains, just trees and farms. I wasn't sure I would ever have the pleasure of experiencing a lenticular altocumulus cloud, but once again, our gracious God showed me... I shot this lenticular cloud Saturday morning, while my wonderful groom was driving us to an event out of town.
Lenticular clouds (Lenticularis), also known as "flying saucer clouds," "angelship clouds", "cloudships", "clouds of heaven", are stationary lens-shaped clouds that form at high altitudes, normally aligned perpendicular to the wind direction.

Lenticular clouds are the most common member of an unusual class of clouds that remain stationary while the wind blows through them. They are normally generated by mountains. They form because of two fundamental properties of air and water. First, when air is lifted and expanded, it cools. This is why temperature normally decreases with height. Second, as air cools, the amount of water it can hold decreases. If air that is already holding almost as much water vapor as it can hold is lifted and thus cooled, the water will condense out fairly promptly onto any particles that may be in the air, forming a cloud. If the air is dry to start with, the air has to be lifted much farther before a cloud forms. When the air descends again, it is warmed, and the cloud droplets evaporate.
~sourceSometimes the air is forced into a wave pattern, generating what is known as a wave cloud. Wave clouds can look like strings of discs spreading out from the leeward side of the mountain. They can also form miniature waves which sometimes look exactly like a choppy sea. If you look around the cloud, you may see a geographical feature which is creating the conditions which lead to the formation of lenticular clouds. If you don't see a mountain or hill, there is probably a current of air running in the opposite direction to create a wave cloud.
~source

That aside, Melor made its way through Japan while we were sleeping, now just an extratropical depression. Sadly, two deaths are blamed on Typhoon Melor. Meanwhile, in the Atlantic Basin, the now Tropical Depression Henri (On-ree) is losing steam as he drifts through the Atlantic. A tropical wave on his heels shows little likelihood of development in the very hostile environment.Back in the states, we have a line of rain and thunderstorms literally inundating Missouri with torrential rains, leading to extensive flooding.
Residents within areas of the flood watches and warnings should exercise extreme caution. Water levels can rise suddenly, easily sweeping cars and people away. If there is water over the roadway, Turn Around, Don't Drown™. You never know how deep the water is, or even whether or not the road is still there. Water can easily wash away overpasses. Don't become a rescue mission... or worse.

Have a safe day!
~Dewdrop

28 comments:

  1. Hello Dew. Tytphoon Parma came back because of Melor. It looped:).
    Though it weakened but it still up North till now.
    Great skies. Now I know the flying saucer clouds(lenticular).
    Thank you for the information.

    Have a great weekend.

    Regina

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh you'll never know what you're going to see eh. Is this due to global warming you think? I'm not sure if I have seen one before, I may have.

    Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nice post and that is a cool lenticular cloud

    Troy

    ReplyDelete
  4. you learn something new every day XXX Don

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great photo´s and interesting post like every week!Thank you for sharing!Have a nice weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Spooky-looking clouds, nice explanation of them. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Glad you got to see a lenticular without having to travel west (though I'm sure you would enjoy the journey). They are usually common in the Eastern Sierra where we spend a lot of time but not many this year.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I don't think I've seen one of these clouds.... I really ust pay more attention.. great posting Dew... have a great Sky Watch
    Tom
    I've got 3 Sky Watch posts up this week... take your pick if you have time
    Wiggers World
    Paintbox Pictures
    Picture & Words

    ReplyDelete
  9. Interesting post and great cloud shots.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Such interesting clouds. Very lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for the explanation. They are interesting clouds and it is suprising that they seem to stay in one place.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yes..it does look like a flying saucer..with a misty trail behind it...good shot..and thanks for the explanation that followed.

    Bob aka Eaglesbrother

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great post and for all the information. I am seeing flying saucer. Pretty cool looking cloud.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great pictures and information.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Lenticular clouds sure are special unles you live around Seattle where they seem to like to hang around too. Lucky for you you not only got to see one but to cpture it too.

    ReplyDelete
  16. that is the coolest thing I have ever seen!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hmmmm... It really looks like an ufo... Well captured.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love reading your blog and learning about the relationship between sky and land. Gorgeous shots.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Quite interesting post! Lenticular cloud really looks like a flying saucer. Typhoon Parma wreaked havoc in my country, particularly the northern parts:(

    ReplyDelete
  20. wow that cloud really looks like a flying saucer/UFO!!! Great capture. I wonder if it's heading to Roswell! Happy SkyWatch =)

    ReplyDelete
  21. such wonderful clouds. i feel happy that you get to add them to the amazing clouds you have seen and shared with us!
    Spirithelpers

    ReplyDelete
  22. Dew: Wonderfully captured, I always appreciate your knowledge of the different clouds you see.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thank you for the images of the lovely lenticular cloud.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Cool cloud shots. thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Beautiful work of His hands and work of your camera.
    Luiz Ramos

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wow! Lenticular clouds really do look like flying saucers. I wonder if most UFO sitings occur in mountainous areas. (wiggle of eyebrows)

    ReplyDelete
  27. So cool! For about a year (since blogging), I've been enchanted with lenticular clouds. I never see them over our mountain, but I've seen things I thought looked similar a couple of times, but thought they HAD to be over mountains. Now I know they don't, so I HAVE seen some. But not as cool as yours.

    As for that Missouri rain? My family there got 10 inches. Craziness!

    ReplyDelete

Dew comment, please...