Lenticular Clouds Over the Southern Andes

October 15, 2014

IMG_4878w

Photographer
: Carlos Di Nallo; Carlos' Web site
Summary Author: Carlos Di Nallo; Jim Foster

The photo above showing amazingly smooth lenticular clouds (altocumulus lenticularis) streaming over the southern Andes was taken at Caviahue, Neuquen, Argentina. These almond or lens shaped orographic wave clouds tend to form on the lee side of topographic barriers such as mountains and foothills. Because they occur in the crests of stationary air currents (waves), if the winds aloft are constant, lenticular clouds may appear nearly motionless with respect to the underlying terrain. When lenticulars are observed, though there's sufficient moisture available at mid-altitudes for these clouds to develop, any precipitation that falls rarely reaches the surface. Photo taken on September 16, 2014.
 
Photo details: Camera Model: Canon EOS REBEL T3i; Lens: EF-S18-55mm f/3.-5.6 IS II; Focal Length: 41mm; Aperture: f/9.0; Exposure Time: 0.0020 s (1/500); ISO equiv: 200; Software: Adobe Photoshop CC 2014 (Windows).