Rotor Cloud over Corinth, Greece

September 20, 2009

Rotorcloud

Photographer: Konstantinos Christodoulopoulos 
Summary Author: Konstantinos Christodoulopoulos; Jim Foster

The photo above showing a small corkscrew like cloud was captured above Corinth, Greece, near sundown on July 7, 2009. This is a type of rotor cloud, which often forms in lee waves in mountainous terrain. These turbulent eddies may take on the appearance of swirling funnels; however, they're not tornadic. They form in mid levels of the atmosphere (classified as altocumulus) rather than near the surface.

Photo details: Canon EOS 450D camera, 1/80 sec, ISO 100