Kiwithrottlejockey
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« on: March 07, 2009, 10:50:56 pm » |
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This very topic (mammatus clouds) was being discussed at the Wings Over New Zealand Aviation Forum, then the following article appeared in Saturday's edition of The Timaru Herald. It's a small world sometimes!http://rnzaf.proboards43.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=civil&thread=7747&page=2 Rare cloud formation fills the skyBy AL WILLIAMS - The Timaru Herald | Saturday, 07 March 2009EYES TO THE SKY: An unusual cloud formation appeared above Geraldine this week, known as mammatus, which is quite unusual. — JANE MACFARLANE-BARNETTGeraldine residents had only to look to the sky for inspiration this week.
This unusual cloud formation appeared above their heads for a brief spell but didn't go unnoticed. The Herald received a photograph from Jane Macfarlane-Barnett, at Stewart's Panel & Paint.
The formation is called mammatus and is quite rare, according to Met Service staff.
Forecaster Robert Kerr said this week's formation was an excellent example.
Mammatus forms on the underside of cirrus clouds and is caused by downward motion of air in the cloud.
It is usually associated with thunderstorm clouds, but in this instance the cloud was a wave cloud generated as the upper air flowed over the Southern Alps.
The upper flow was from north to south yesterday morning, and as it flowed over the South Island, a wave cloud formed in the wake of the ridge as the rising air cooled.http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/2033828/Rare-cloud-formation-fills-the-sky
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« Last Edit: March 07, 2009, 10:54:26 pm by Kiwithrottlejockey »
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guest49
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« Reply #1 on: March 08, 2009, 05:08:24 am » |
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Looks like something out of Ghostbusters.
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relaxed1
Bloody-Good Member
Posts: 251
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« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2009, 07:41:49 am » |
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Ya know in the first pic without the town in it i would thought it was a crumpet lol
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I know how i am and your approval isn't needed
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Lovelee
XNC2 GOD
Posts: 19338
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« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2009, 08:21:13 am » |
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Thats amazing - you can see the affect of the downward motion!
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Laughter is the best medicine, unless you've got a really nasty case of syphilis, in which case penicillin is your best bet.
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2009, 11:50:36 am » |
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Ya know in the first pic without the town in it i would thought it was a crumpet lol
Click on the link in the first message and take a look at the thread on the aviation messageboard. There's some photographs posted there that were taken by an Eagle Air captain from his cockpit. Apparently, commercial pilots avoid mammatus clouds like the plague, because it tends to shake the passengers around severely when they get too close to them.
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bump head benny
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Posts: 1291
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« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2009, 02:00:37 pm » |
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Those clouds look freaky......would probably look awesome from the ground, especially if they were swirling around a lot?
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Lets kill all the warmongers.
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