Tim Anderson of Clifton, Illinois snapped this photo in his backyard on Sunday (10/9/2009) and e-mails asking, "What causes this weird arrangement?" Weird indeed. What a fascinating shot.
It appears the fuzzy clouds in the midst of the three openings in the altocumulus clouds which cover most of the sky mark areas in which air is ascending. Offsetting subsidence appears to be occurring around each of the fuzzy-looking altostratus clouds in the midst of each of the three openings in the clouds as evidenced by the clear patches around the periphery of each of these altostratus. Clouds evaporate in areas of sinking air; conversely, regions of rising air are areas in which the ascending air is cooling and clouds develop when the cooling takes the air to saturation. Great shot, Tim! THANKS for sharing it with us!
Tom Skilling
It appears the fuzzy clouds in the midst of the three openings in the altocumulus clouds which cover most of the sky mark areas in which air is ascending. Offsetting subsidence appears to be occurring around each of the fuzzy-looking altostratus clouds in the midst of each of the three openings in the clouds as evidenced by the clear patches around the periphery of each of these altostratus. Clouds evaporate in areas of sinking air; conversely, regions of rising air are areas in which the ascending air is cooling and clouds develop when the cooling takes the air to saturation. Great shot, Tim! THANKS for sharing it with us!
Tom Skilling
