Muse back!
March 17, 2008 / Monday
Cloud Craziness
On Sunday, driving down 85, we looked over at a mountain and watched in awe as a cloud disappeared while another formed next to it. That cloud then disappeared, and another appeared in its place. This happened over the course of several minutes. I'd never seen such a thing. It was as if there was a little experimental cloud system in just that little spot next to the mountain. I wanted to pull over and document it, but there was no good place to do so and I didn't have my camera with me anyhow. And so, instead of watching the video that could have been and wowing like I did, you're left with a blurb of text describing what you didn't get to see. So solly!
Comments
I feel in need of an explanation. Do you know no meteorologists?
Posted by: Jennie at March 18, 2008 12:57 PM
Unfortunately, no, I don't know any. :(
Posted by: Viv at March 18, 2008 02:28 PM
I'm no meteorologist, but clouds do form near mountains quite often. It's mainly due to warm air getting pushed up the side of the mountain by wind, or warm air rising as it heats up and moves into cooler air layers. Warm air plus cool air equals condensation, and you get clouds. If the mountain is high enough, sometimes the clouds can't be blown over the top and they dump whatever moisture they have on the one side, then dissipate. More air (and moisture) moving in will create another cloud, and so on. It happens pretty dramatically in the Himalayas and other really high mountains (I've seen it on TV, haven't been there - yet).
For more on this -
Cloud formation page!
Posted by: Mike at March 18, 2008 04:42 PM
Hehe, I was actually going to follow up my last comment with, "But I bet Mike has an answer for this." :)
Maybe the fresh little cloud rained and disappeared, and I just couldn't see the rain.
Watching it in action reminded me of this experiment.
Posted by: Viv at March 18, 2008 04:47 PM
:-D
Posted by: Mike at March 18, 2008 05:17 PM