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Home / New Zealand

'Mother Nature's signature in the sky': Kelvin-Helmholtz wave clouds spotted over Central Otago

NZ Herald
8 Jun, 2020 08:01 AMQuick Read

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The extremely rare clouds were spotted above Central Otago. Photo / NIWA

The extremely rare clouds were spotted above Central Otago. Photo / NIWA

A spectacular cloud formation delighted those staring into the blue skies in Central Otago yesterday afternoon.

A photo shared by Niwa on social media shows the Kelvin-Helmholtz wave clouds that formed over Lauder, in Central Otago.

"Like Mother Nature's signature in the sky," Niwa described the formations on Twitter.

Like Mother Nature's signature in the sky: Kelvin-Helmholtz wave clouds! ☁️ 🌀

These clouds, which resemble rolling ocean waves, were spotted over Central Otago on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/s21Nn7QreV

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) June 8, 2020

"These clouds, which resemble rolling ocean waves, were spotted over Central Otago on Sunday," the tweet added.

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Kelvin–Helmholtz cloud formations, named after after Lord Kelvin and Hermann von Helmholtz, are extremely rare.

They occur when there is a strong vertical shear between two air streams, which leads to winds blowing faster at the upper level than at the lower levels. That difference in speed causes the wave-like formations in the clouds.

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