August 2006
‘Surf’s Up’ at 24,000ft over Georgia, US.
The classic 1964 surfing documentary, The Endless Summer, followed the adventures of three surfers traveling from Malibu to Ghana, via Nigeria, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Hawaii in search of the perfect wave. Cloudspotters can experience their own perfect wave too, without ever having to leave home – all they need is a lot of patience. The only down side to the ultimate aerial breaker, is that it has the particularly un-hip name of the ‘Kelvin-Helmholtz cloud’.
The breaking waveforms of ‘Kelv-Helmz’ (as they aren’t known) are the result of shearing winds up at cloud level. A particular type of turbulence can develop in a layer of Cirrus cloud, which happens to form below an inversion* between air currents of differing speeds and/or directions. Sea waves break as their bases are slowed down upon reaching shallow water and their crests surge ahead. Cloud waves break in the same way: when their crests are pushed ahead of their troughs by the difference in air currents.
Though spotter-dudes won’t have to cross the world to see this formation, those in search of the perfect Kelvin-Helmholtz will have to wait a while. This most beautiful and transient of formations may appear over most regions of the world but it only ever does so on the rarest of occasions.
*An inversion is a region where air temperatures change with altitude in such a way as to act as an invisible ‘ceiling’ that stops clouds from rising through it.
Photograph © Brian Wong
chieko
June 16, 2011 at 7:48 pmI have been lucky enough to have seen these clouds this year in between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, NM at dusk. I watched them form and was completely fascinated by them as I drove south on the highway. Unfortunately, I had no camera with me but they are ingrained in my memory!
pony express
October 5, 2011 at 8:07 pmToday I saw them, the imfomiss kelvin-helmholtz clouds comming home from work. Unfortunately they were gone within a few minutes, so I did’nt have time to take pictures.Where were these clouds seen, Brampton,Ontario,Canada
Jo L
October 21, 2011 at 11:35 amI saw these clouds over the Atlantic Ocean on my birthday this year, 13 October. I was surfing at Saunton, North Devon, UK. My friends were a long way down the beach and were too busy watching the waves on the ocean to see these amazing formations in the sky! I had to make some new friends to share them with;)
What a wonderful birthday gift, perfect waves twice over!
SOettle
November 12, 2011 at 4:18 pmI saw some over Jacksonville, Illinois today. Sadly, my camera wasn’t with me. :( They were pretty awesome!
Elizabeth Taylor
December 20, 2011 at 6:40 amThese were seen Dec 16,2011 in Birmingham,Ala on Utube home vid called …Tsunami wave cloud over Birmingham,Ala
ana
December 20, 2011 at 2:27 pmsorry to tell you but these clouds are not good sign… Earth changes are violent and upheaval at our doorstep
may look “nice” but, as sign, not at all…
Mary
January 2, 2012 at 4:02 amAna, I’m interested in hearing & learning more about your statement, I believe you are right! Please email me with your facts, thoughts, and anything at [email protected] Thank you
J-Dawn
February 4, 2012 at 3:40 pmI saw those the other day and was fortunate enough to have my camera with me. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdawn82/6809560611/ Only got one or two good shots before they leveled off.
Ian Uzzell
March 19, 2012 at 8:27 amI saw some yesterday whilst driving. I passed my camera to my wife who took some photos before they dissipated. I will post on the photo section later
Jen Fountain
March 24, 2012 at 10:02 pmWe had some here in Honesdale, PA today. I was only able to take two photos – very cool!
Warren Arbuckle
November 13, 2012 at 9:53 pmI saw my first Kelvin-Helmholtz cloud formation on 30/10/2012, 5.20pm above Margate, Tasmania. They were formed atop of a Lenticular cloud, so even rarer to see. I managed to scramble for my camera , but only got a couple of shots as they were collapsing. Very special moment :-)
giddens
December 4, 2012 at 2:13 pmI saw these fabulous clouds in the morning at a B&B in Lynton,Devon in October this year.I took several photos but don’t know how to get them from my camera to the website!
Savitri Simpson
December 27, 2012 at 8:14 pmI saw them on the day before 12-21-12. You can imagine what I thought? Never saw them before, but nice to know what they are. I got a pretty good photo with a cell phone (this is in No. Cal). Should I send the photo somewhere?
Anonymous
February 6, 2013 at 9:27 pmnice ion
Anonymous
February 6, 2013 at 9:27 pmsorry nice info
qwertydog
February 13, 2013 at 9:12 pmSaw these hidden within stratocumulus clouds one day.
David Geddes
November 14, 2013 at 10:12 pmSunday 10 Nov 2013. Observed a beautiful display of KHI in the sky west of Rum and Skye (Scotland) amidst a setting sun. Pics on web site per URL given in the album ‘View from Meall Gorm’.
David Geddes
November 14, 2013 at 10:15 pmDirect link to web album image https://picasaweb.google.com/101567632500778470634/TheSceneryFromMeallGormApplecross#5944718788365326770 The cloud display was present for at least 2 hours. One large commercial jet going west threaded the cloud spirals.
Alicia
December 13, 2013 at 12:24 pmJust saw some during the sun rise in DC this AM. They were pink!