Lenticular Clouds over Milan, Italy

Photographer: Egidio Vergani
Summary Author: Egidio Vergani

The photo above shows beautiful lenticular clouds at sunset as observed from the balcony of my home in Milan, Italy.  These attention-getting clouds (Altocumulus lenticularis), rarely seen like this above Milan, form from orographic waves, when an air stream is forced to rise after encountering a mountain or elevated terrain. The lens shaped clouds appear at intervals closely related to the wavelength of the undulating air stream. At the crest of the wave, once the rising air is sufficiently cooled, water vapor condenses. But at the wave trough, where the air is slightly drier, the cloud evaporates. Photo taken on October 29, 2017. 

Photo Details: Olympus E-620 camera; 50 mm lens; f3.2; 1/100 second exposure; ISO 400.

 

Milan, Italy Coordinates: 45.4685, 9.1824

Related Links: 
Lenticular Cloud over Turin, Italy
Egidio's Website