Clouds that look like UFOs

I snapped this photo of three flying saucerlike clouds hovering over the 101 in Tarzana about an hour ago. I believe they are lenticular clouds. Google images has lots of nice examples of lenticular clouds. Link

[#1 posted by mrfantasy , September 14, 2007 7:08 PM]

Or are they UFOs that look like clouds?

[#2 posted by epp_b , September 14, 2007 7:31 PM]

That's a great picture. I like the surreal underexposure of it.

[#3 posted by gollux , September 14, 2007 7:34 PM]

Standing Lenticular clouds. If you were at that altitude, you would find high winds. They have a very smooth, sculpted look. The moisture condenses on the inflow side, flows through the layer as a mist and evaporates just as fast on the outflow side. Here, you are seeing a mountain wave effect with the peaks of the wave being in the colder region where the moisture is condensing. These can be even more spectacular when lit by sunset with all sorts of really amazing colors.

[#4 posted by Anonymous , September 14, 2007 7:49 PM]

Also interesting to note that these clouds are treacherous for planes, usually occur at high altitude. I live near Lake Tahoe at about 6.5k ft and we see Lenticular clouds often. Pilots definitely fear them.

[#5 posted by ElleP , September 14, 2007 7:53 PM]

Great photo. I love cloudscapes and am a member of The Cloud Appreciation Society. http://www.cloudappreciationsociety.org/

[#6 posted by Antinous , September 14, 2007 8:08 PM]

We had a huge number of lenticular clouds today in Palm Springs. We get them regularly because of the mountain, but this was exceptional.

[#7 posted by Artnoize , September 14, 2007 8:11 PM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev0y7DMe0ug

[#8 posted by BackwardsDog , September 14, 2007 8:25 PM]

Indeed, the clouds in Palm Springs today looked amazing. Especially against the clear blue desert sky.

[#9 posted by Anonymous , September 14, 2007 8:30 PM]

IT HAS BEGUN!!!!!quick!! sell all your technology for ammo and await their next moves!!!

[#10 posted by Anonymous , September 14, 2007 9:39 PM]

Hey Mark, saw the same ones here in the high desert(Phelan) today was very cool.

Rory

[#11 posted by Anonymous , September 14, 2007 9:42 PM]

those clouds are cover for alien spaceships. they only look like clouds.

[#12 posted by Scott , September 14, 2007 11:15 PM]

ACSL's usually mean bad turbulence. Flying near those bad boys could cause some serious damage to an aircraft.

[#13 posted by Burns! , September 14, 2007 11:55 PM]

I saw (and photographed) these same clouds from Pasadena today. Thanks for identification and further info.

[#14 posted by Dr.Arthur , September 15, 2007 2:28 AM]

I saw those beautiful things out in Riverside today. They were fantastic.

[#15 posted by strider_mt2k , September 15, 2007 6:17 AM]

Yeah...clouds, sure.m ;)

[#16 posted by Buns and Chou Chou , September 15, 2007 8:59 AM]

That explains a LOT...

[#17 posted by Anonymous , September 15, 2007 12:01 PM]

Sky from Tokyo http://tokyoundressed.blogspot.com/2006/09/my-sky.html

[#18 posted by Johnny Coelacanth , September 15, 2007 9:39 PM]

I've had the privilege of seeing lots of lenticular clouds, living in a mountain-ringed valley in northern Arizona. Vry cool.

[#19 posted by Hayduke , September 16, 2007 12:02 AM]

While those clouds indicate some hefty winds aloft not all pilots avoid them. Glider pilots use them to soar to terrific heights by staying in the updraft part of the wave.

[#20 posted by Anonymous , September 16, 2007 9:46 AM]

Great photo. Saw those same clouds!

[#21 posted by Anonymous , September 16, 2007 3:42 PM]

Lenticulars are gorgeous, but you don't see them often. I recall an old black and white pic of Pike's Peak with a huge, perfect lenticular on top. Google Image Search doesn't kick that one out, but Mt. Fuji gets them too:

http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Mount-Fuji-Japan-Posters_i1510977_.htm

[#22 posted by Nuclear Artisan , September 17, 2007 3:46 AM]

I have never actually seen clouds like this before. It's truly amazing, they look like giant white marshmallow pancakes! Ah, child-like imagination has just swept over me like crazy. Sheesh.

[#23 posted by peterjlupoesq , February 27, 2008 10:09 PM]

Lenticular clouds are quite beautiful, and I wonder how many people today mistake them for UFOs. This number could hint at how many earlier UFO sightings may have been cloud formations mistaken for chariots of the gods.

The dry phrases above mask the overwhelming wonder I experience over aerial anomalies.

If only I could conjure a sentiment to express my brightening vision.

Peter J. Lupo Esq.
http://antiaging4geeks.com