Canary Island Orographic Clouds

March 09, 2007

Ac_len_061125_s2 copy

Provided and copyright by: Juergen Rendtel, Arbeitskreis Meteore
Summary authors & editors: Juergen Rendtel

At the Observatorio del Teide in the Canary Islands (Spain), both solar and nighttime telescopes observe astronomical objects, around the clock from, an altitude of about 2,400 m (7,873 ft). The summit area of the Teide Mountain (3,715 m or 12,188 ft) on occasion forms orographic clouds of breathtaking shape. This photo was taken in the early morning hours of November 25, 2006 when the wind was gusting around the observatory buildings at speeds of approximately 90 km/h (54 mph). An active jet stream (or streak) in the vicinity of a mountain range can initiate the formation of wave clouds, particularly if the flow is more or less perpendicular to the range. The wide angle camera setup of the telescope used to capture this lenticular cloud had been prepared for meteor photography. The exposure time was 60 seconds.

Related Links: