Cloud watchers over central Iowa were treated to Lenticular Clouds on Wednesday afternoon. While this type of cloud is often observed on the leeward side of mountains, it takes a special environment to produce them in the absence of significant topography. In this case, a northeasterly propagating gravity wave into flow going in the opposite direction likely combined to produce a "standing wave" environment necessary for these clouds to form. You can find a satellite lapse showing the gravity wave interaction. The clouds have a smooth appearance as the flow sculpts the cloud stuck in the crest of the standing wave. A time lapse from ISU was captured and available on YouTube that shows the stationary nature of the clouds. Again, you'll find plenty of much fancier and more dramatic examples of these clouds near mountains on the Internet, but such displays on the plains are rare! Hope you were able to see them.

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Tags:   clouds