Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Swirling Hole in The Clouds

I have been traveling and saw this on my return flight. 


I am inclined to believe this cloud pattern is the result of a localized low pressure system, but have not thought through alternatives. The cloud layer is a thin essentially elevated fog layer over cold ocean water with relatively warm air, but in this case appears to have some circulation taking place.

1 comment:

Doug McKeever said...

Dan, I saw the exact same thing while in a flightover the North Atlantic years ago, far from land. I also concluded that there was circulation (ccw)as if it was a mini- low without fronts.
I like the termfor a relsted phenomenon on the link: Von karman vortex. Sounds sophisticated!