Punching Holes in the Clouds--Literally

AncientAliens_flyingcars.jpg
 
No not really, a standing lenticular cloud is most often cause by stable air flowing over a mountain top, this displacement of air creates an oscillation (because stable air wants to deny lifting) and that slight convection and advection made by the oscillation, mixed with enough moisture, will induce the production of a standing lenticular cloud.

A hole punch cloud can be cause by aircraft or can just be made naturally, but both are quite rare.

This is actually caused by a chain reaction effect of some glaciated water particles that, somehow, melt to a point ideal enough for the particles to be attracted to one another, when this happens it is a chain reaction effect of one water particle meeting with another, and another, and another, and since these clouds are at such high altitudes, there is not much convection to stop these particles from dropping (sometimes up to a mile vertically) until they somehow freeze at a lower level, or get to the point where enough have fallen and they can no longer attract in their current state, so the process stops, create a very unique "cloud."

Hope that helps!
 
While flying at 13500' "vfr over the top" over the Appalachians this past fall we watched a cloud that was 500' above surrounding cloud tops turn into a deep sinkhole within 30 seconds. Winds were out of the NW at 30kts and we were crossing the highest terrain at the time. We all get to see some pretty neat stuff up there!
 
I know it's not literally a reverse lenticular cloud, but that's the first thing it looked like when I saw the pic. Really neat insight on how they're formed, though. This pic is pretty cool, too.
 

Attachments

  • hole-punch-nasa-satellite_650x366.jpg
    hole-punch-nasa-satellite_650x366.jpg
    44.7 KB · Views: 27
Don't let the general public know that we are punching holes in the clouds. It will become just another rally cry for the general public to limit GA.:goofy:
 
Did anyone read the comments on that article from the idiot-squad?
 
Back
Top