Lenticular and Wave Clouds As wind forces air over the top of mountains, it can force the formation of standing waves in the midst of that wind. As moist air rides up to the peak of the wave, it can condense in the cooler, higher atmosphere. These condensed peaks can stack on top of each other, and form lenticular clouds like we see in the top image above Mauna Kea. “Lenticular” comes from the Latin word for lens, describing the cloud’s oblong shape. Here’s a diagram of that windy wave, from Skybrary: On the downwind side, those wave peaks can extend for miles and miles, forming spots of condensation at each peak along the way. This forms the beautiful wave clouds you see in the bottom image. Clouds are pretty cool, eh?
Zoom Info
Lenticular and Wave Clouds As wind forces air over the top of mountains, it can force the formation of standing waves in the midst of that wind. As moist air rides up to the peak of the wave, it can condense in the cooler, higher atmosphere. These condensed peaks can stack on top of each other, and form lenticular clouds like we see in the top image above Mauna Kea. “Lenticular” comes from the Latin word for lens, describing the cloud’s oblong shape. Here’s a diagram of that windy wave, from Skybrary: On the downwind side, those wave peaks can extend for miles and miles, forming spots of condensation at each peak along the way. This forms the beautiful wave clouds you see in the bottom image. Clouds are pretty cool, eh?
Zoom Info

Lenticular and Wave Clouds

As wind forces air over the top of mountains, it can force the formation of standing waves in the midst of that wind. As moist air rides up to the peak of the wave, it can condense in the cooler, higher atmosphere. These condensed peaks can stack on top of each other, and form lenticular clouds like we see in the top image above Mauna Kea. “Lenticular” comes from the Latin word for lens, describing the cloud’s oblong shape. Here’s a diagram of that windy wave, from Skybrary:

On the downwind side, those wave peaks can extend for miles and miles, forming spots of condensation at each peak along the way. This forms the beautiful wave clouds you see in the bottom image.

Clouds are pretty cool, eh?

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