On January 8, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite captured an image of “clouds streets” over the Black Sea. Cloud streets are lines of cumulus clouds that run parallel to the wind. That is some beautiful wind.
Image credit: NASA/Aqua-MODIS
From NASA’s Eath Observatory description:
Cloud streets are long parallel bands of cumulus clouds that form when cold air blows over warmer waters and a warmer air layer (temperature inversion) rests over the top of both. The comparatively warm water gives up heat and moisture to the cold air above, and columns of heated air called thermals naturally rise through the atmosphere. The temperature inversion acts like a lid. When the rising thermals hit it, they roll over and loop back on themselves, creating parallel cylinders of rotating air. As this happens, the moisture cools and condenses into flat-bottomed, fluffy-topped cumulus clouds that line up parallel to the direction of the prevailing winds.
