Lenticular cloud?

Hi

Friends and I visited Mono lake this past weekend. While there, we encountered a strange looking cloud (at least to me) which I had never seen this kind of cloud before. It looked scary. Is this cloud called lenticular? Converted to B&W (to try) to convey the mood.



I appreciate any feedback you may have on this image.

Thanks

Duy

--

Very cool shot. Congrats!

Very nice Leticular and rare get. A very compact shape. Very pure as far as lenticulars go - may have a trailing tail ro section. Did you take any shots of it with a wider lents?

Rick

That looks like a super cell. gc

Hi pawn

Great shot and I like it a lot, Mono lake must be known for these types of clouds? I have seen them here myself.

Regards

Paul

Yes, or more formally "Altocumulus Standing Lenticular (ACSL)" clouds and often referred to as "wave" clouds. They are formed in stable conditions and caused by strong winds flowing perpendicular to a mountain range. A ripple or oscillating effect occurs over and downwind of the mountain barrier, similar to waves caused from a pebble tossed in a calm lake. If sufficient moisture is present, clouds form in the areas of the ripple pattern where there is upward vertical lift and disappear in the descending or downward portion of the wave, forming the lens-shaped appearance. I have heard the term "pagoda" clouds used to describe when the clouds take on a layered vertically-stacked appearance, as shown to some degree in your photo, although typically with a little more separation of the layers in the vertical.

For airline pilots, these clouds offer a visual warning of moderate to severe turbulence/wind shear. Having lived in Reno, NV (located in the lee of the Sierra Nevada) for several years, these are a fairly common occurrences in the winter months and can make for truly amazing sunsets.

I really like what you've done with the black and white conversion. It takes on the look of an Ansel Adams photograph! Nice capture! That would make a great print.

While I am here, I looked through your image collection on smugmug and am really impressed with your work. As an aviation enthusiast, I think one of my favorites was the Patriots jet passing by Alcatraz. So many great photos! Thank you for sharing your gallery.

Mike

--
Aim High - Lay Low

fantastic shot, Duy, you are lucky to be there at that moment! just make sure you are not under that cloud formation ;-)

this type of cloud formation usually happen around Mt. Shasta area in california. i have seen a few (but not as ominous looking as this one) when i was living in northern calif.

I was in the Eastern Sierra this past weekend too and saw that same series of lenticulars come through. There was a smaller, but equally impressive stack coming up over the crest at the same time that this one was already sitting over the basin. It was one of the best sunsets I've seen at Mono Lake, a place with no shortage of impressive sunsets. I don't want to hijack someone else's thread, but if people are interested I have some photos too.

Paul mentioned that he's also seen lenticulars at Mono Lake in the past. They're pretty common on the east side of the Sierra, for the reasons explained above by yodog. There's even a specific term for it...google "Sierra Wave."

Great capture and I love the decision to go black and white with this. Wonderful image.

Lenticulars are fairly common in the eastern Sierra. I was there last week but left on Friday and missed this one. Darn.

Here's a line of lenticulars I caught outside of Bridgeport at sunset one day last year. I've also spotted them around Bishop and Lone Pine.







--
Michael

Reggie Stration said:

Very cool shot. Congrats!

Click to expand...

Thanks Reggie

rick decker said:

Very nice Leticular and rare get. A very compact shape. Very pure as far as lenticulars go - may have a trailing tail ro section. Did you take any shots of it with a wider lents?

Rick

Click to expand...

Thanks Rick.

I have one that was wider but a lot of people were in the picture which I don't like.

GCam said:

That looks like a super cell. gc

Click to expand...

What is a super cell?

Paul Donaldson said:

Hi pawn

Great shot and I like it a lot, Mono lake must be known for these types of clouds? I have seen them here myself.

Regards

Paul

Click to expand...

Thanks Paul. It was my first time seeing it. It was amazing.

yodog said:

Yes, or more formally "Altocumulus Standing Lenticular (ACSL)" clouds and often referred to as "wave" clouds. They are formed in stable conditions and caused by strong winds flowing perpendicular to a mountain range. A ripple or oscillating effect occurs over and downwind of the mountain barrier, similar to waves caused from a pebble tossed in a calm lake. If sufficient moisture is present, clouds form in the areas of the ripple pattern where there is upward vertical lift and disappear in the descending or downward portion of the wave, forming the lens-shaped appearance. I have heard the term "pagoda" clouds used to describe when the clouds take on a layered vertically-stacked appearance, as shown to some degree in your photo, although typically with a little more separation of the layers in the vertical.

Click to expand...

Thanks Mike for the detailed info on the clouds

Member said:

For airline pilots, these clouds offer a visual warning of moderate to severe turbulence/wind shear. Having lived in Reno, NV (located in the lee of the Sierra Nevada) for several years, these are a fairly common occurrences in the winter months and can make for truly amazing sunsets.

I really like what you've done with the black and white conversion. It takes on the look of an Ansel Adams photograph! Nice capture! That would make a great print.

Click to expand...

Member said:

While I am here, I looked through your image collection on smugmug and am really impressed with your work. As an aviation enthusiast, I think one of my favorites was the Patriots jet passing by Alcatraz. So many great photos! Thank you for sharing your gallery.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the kind words. The more I photograph airplanes, the more I like them. Being able to see them at various airshows is great. Although fast jets (F-35/F-15/etc.) are cool and am able to get good pictures of them, my favorites are WWII planes.

Member said:

Mike

Click to expand...

1Dx4me said:

fantastic shot, Duy, you are lucky to be there at that moment! just make sure you are not under that cloud formation ;-)

Click to expand...

Thanks 1Dx4me

Yes, a lot of luck. I wonder what would happen being under that clouds.

Garthom said:

I was in the Eastern Sierra this past weekend too and saw that same series of lenticulars come through. There was a smaller, but equally impressive stack coming up over the crest at the same time that this one was already sitting over the basin. It was one of the best sunsets I've seen at Mono Lake, a place with no shortage of impressive sunsets. I don't want to hijack someone else's thread, but if people are interested I have some photos too.

Paul mentioned that he's also seen lenticulars at Mono Lake in the past. They're pretty common on the east side of the Sierra, for the reasons explained above by yodog. There's even a specific term for it...google "Sierra Wave."

Click to expand...

Thanks Garthom

A lot of people were there. In fact, the parking lot was full.

bathgate said:

Great capture and I love the decision to go black and white with this. Wonderful image.

Click to expand...

Thanks bathgate

bathgate said:

Lenticulars are fairly common in the eastern Sierra. I was there last week but left on Friday and missed this one. Darn.

Click to expand...

It was all luck that I saw this clouds.

bathgate said:

Here's a line of lenticulars I caught outside of Bridgeport at sunset one day last year. I've also spotted them around Bishop and Lone Pine.

Click to expand...

It looks like there were at least two lenticular clouds in your image. May be more. That was amazing.

--

pawn said:

GCam said:

That looks like a super cell. gc

Click to expand...

What is a super cell?

Click to expand...

One that can spawn a tornado. I was chasing one of these the other morning in Houston but could never get the buildings out of the way for a clean shot. At the time I was chasing it we had tornado warnings to the north in Montgomery County which was being inundated with rain at that time. gc

pawn said:

Hi

Friends and I visited Mono lake this past weekend. While there, we encountered a strange looking cloud (at least to me) which I had never seen this kind of cloud before. It looked scary. Is this cloud called lenticular? Converted to B&W (to try) to convey the mood.

Click to expand...

As one who shoots clouds all the time I sure wish I was there for that. Beautiful.

--
I was once asked if I were embarrassed for asking so many questions. Well, I replied, only a man who has nothing to learn should be embarrassed.