They look stunning and are known by a variety of names: Lee clouds.
The sky phenomenon can also be observed in Germany.
Kassel – Looking up at the sky allows us to observe amazing natural phenomena again and again.
Just recently, northern lights could be observed in large parts of Germany.
But also various cloud formations amaze people again and again.
For example, the lenticularis clouds, also called Lee clouds.
With this celestial spectacle, it looks as if we are being visited from another universe, which is why people like to call the clouds flying saucers.
However, the lenticular clouds can also take on typically fish- or zeppelin-like shapes, are often very elongated, and usually have well-defined boundaries.
But how does the phenomenon arise?
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Lee clouds: This is how the spectacular sky phenomenon is created
Because lenticularis clouds tend to form on the leeward side of mountains, i.e. the side away from the wind, they are also called leeward clouds.
They form when humid air flows over an obstacle such as a hill or mountain.
The air often flows around individual mountains, but in the case of a mountain range aligned perpendicularly to the wind direction, an overflow becomes more and more likely with increasing wind speed.
This creates wave-like air movements on the leeward side.
This flow is therefore also referred to as "lee waves".
The water vapor in the atmosphere makes this wave motion visible in the form of clouds.
#UFO alarm this morning in #Valais and in #BernerOberland: With #southwest wind and some #foehn so-called altocumulus #lenticularis clouds in the sky.
Thank you for the many #SRFMeteoImages.
^ds pic.twitter.com/nxXEOneU4G
— SRF Meteo (@srfmeteo) September 13, 2022
According to experts from the German Weather Service (DWD), stable atmospheric stratification is another prerequisite for the spectacular Lee clouds.
In contrast to a thunderstorm, the clouds do not rise as a result, but remain flat at their apex.
Best conditions for the formation of the unusual clouds.
Spectacular Lee clouds: a phenomenon that is not uncommon in Germany
As the weather portal wetter.net states, lenticularis clouds do not shift with the flow, but remain stationary as long as the moisture and flow conditions do not change drastically.
Meteorologists can recognize a foehn weather situation very well on the basis of lee clouds.
The unusual clouds are therefore also often referred to as foehn clouds, foehn boats or foehn fish.
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Lee clouds are a breathtaking celestial phenomenon that can also be observed in Germany.
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© Imago
According to the DWD, lee clouds are not that rare - and not only in the lee of the Alps.
The UFO-shaped clouds can also be seen from time to time in the low mountain ranges and even in northern Germany.
And according to meteorologists, the mountain ranges of the Eifel, Bergisches Land, Teutoburger Wald and Nordhessisches Bergland also represent ideally aligned obstacles for the required flow. (hg)
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List of rubrics: © Imago