Lenticular Panorama

Photographer: Jordan Maendel
Summary Author: Jordan Maendel 

The photo above shows a panorama of a low slung, lenticular wave cloud as viewed from near Indian Head Mountain (approximately 3,500 ft or 1,067 m in elevation), in the Catskill Mountains of New York. This area frequently has interesting weather and remarkable cloud patterns. I teach Earth Science at Platte Clove High School in the valley across from Indian Head Mountain, seen in the center of the panorama. On this late winter’s day this spectacular lenticular cloud, which mimicked the profile of the ridge, was formed by air forced up and over the back side of the mountain ridge. I took my students out to watch this stationary cloud form and "melt" away as the air sank and compressed on our side of the ridge. This was one of those occasions when it was easier to teach (and learn) by simply stepping outside.  Photo taken at about 8:00 a.m. (local Eastern Daylight Time) in March of 2009.