Equipping our Saints for Service - Not recent, but interesting clouds...

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Not recent, but interesting clouds...

Today while cleaning, I ran across this photo. I took it a couple years ago in the high desert of Oregon. Mind you, that is not a place where interesting cloud formations can keep your imagination occupied for any length of time at all.

But this one fascinated me. I called the kids out, took a picture, and we discussed it. It looked like cinnamon rolls in the clouds! I'd never seen anything like it!

Now, if I were in Oklahoma, I'd probably head as underground as I could get upon seeing these strange formations. But since tornadoes (other than dust devils) are few and far between, I felt safe enough to snap a few photos. This is the one that came out best, with a few close-ups of the two most prominent swirls.

I never did find out how they formed, but would love to if any of your budding meteorologists know...

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Saturday, September 16, 2006 - I'll ask my dad

Posted by Anonymous

My dad might know! :-)
He's really smart about weather. And chemistry. And physics. And math. And mushrooms ....

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Saturday, September 16, 2006 - This is Kim, by the way

Posted by Anonymous

Too lazy for the extra screen to log in.

Dad says:

"Any idea how the “cinnamon roll” clouds in this picture come about?"

Not really - looks like horizontal eddying. About the only way I can imagine getting that would be to have a rapidly moving air mass (like a low altitude 'jet-stream') moving past something nearly quiescent. A bit hard to set up those conditions, however. I don't recall ever seeing "cinnamon roll" clouds.

Love, Poppie

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