Elongated Cloud
April 17, 2004
Provided by: Lisa Lester
Summary authors & editors: Jim Foster; Lisa Lester
This extended cloud formation was taken a little before sunset, in early March, over Dear Park, Texas. It seemed to originate near the southwestern horizon and terminate in the north. The northern portion of the cloud band is shown above, and at the time the photo was snapped, it appeared to bisect the sky. This cloud could very well be a Texas-sized contrail -- jets fly over this location on a regular basis. If there's considerable water vapor at the altitude of the contrail, then it would more readily spread out. On the other hand, since the borders aren't particularly distinct, this may be a cirrus cloud that's unusually stretched.
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