Cloud Cascade

Photographer: Roberto Porto 
Summary Authors: Roberto Porto; Jim Foster

The photo above shows clouds cascading down the western slopes of La Palma island -- one of Spain's Canary Islands. These clouds (fog bank) gradually dissipate as they flow downslope, forming what looks like, from a distance, a cascade of water. This effect can be perhaps best be appreciated in the area around El Paso and from the National Park Visitor Centre, near where this photo was captured. In essence, a marine layer (cool, moist air, that's more dense, over the waters off La Palma) was forced inland by a strong sea breeze. Downslope warming acted to help evaporate the layer of thick fog. Click here to see a short time lapse and drone video of this amazing sea of clouds. Photo taken on September 2, 2018. 

• El Paso, Spain Coordinates: 28.6518, -17.8800
• Related Links
  • Clouds and Fog in Caldera de Taburiente
  • The Fog Rolls In
• Student Links
  • The Sky and the Dichotomous Key
  • The Stories Clouds Tell
• Earth Observatory
  • Clouds and Radiation

[11/18]