Undular bore waves

[Derek Weston]

Interesting link from Nasa. Found today on spaceweather.com
Throws out the idea that these waves may amplify tornadoes.

Giant Atmospheric Waves Over Iowa
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/11oct_undularbore.htm

 

[Jayson Prentice]

And of course the great camera work by the Iowa Environmental Mesonet and Iowa State University for capturing that great video!

Interesting article on how they may amplify tornadoes, one thing that caught me off-guard was the statement on how they aren't that rare and actually occur quite often. I guess I never expected that...

 

[Paul Knightley]

Very interesting - a similar looking cloud to the Morning Glory of NE Australia.

 

[cstrunk]

I was getting off of work that morning and I remembered seeing those clouds move in (I live in Ames and go to school at ISU). They looked a lot like shelf clouds and they were visually spectacular to see. I wished I had my camera with me to take pictures before they moved overhead.

Interesting to read about something you remember seeing.

 

[Chad Cowan]

I saw what I believe to be this type of cloud on 8.23 of this year in Chicago. At the time, I thought it was a gravity wave, but after reading this article I believe it qualifies as an undular bore wave. The environmental conditions fit the description listed in the article with the derecho/ squall line having moved through leaving some cold, stable air in its wake. The updrafts of the second round of storms to the northwest provided the 'pebble in the pond' effect causing the ripples.

Has anyone else seen/ photographed this phenomenon? I was unaware it was as common as noted in the article.


2nd line developing, pseudo-shelf:
http://photos.clcimages.com/GalleryFilmstrip.aspx?gallery=33751&photo=1066653

Undular bore waves (?):
http://photos.clcimages.com/GalleryFilmstrip.aspx?gallery=33751&photo=1066656

Closer view:
http://photos.clcimages.com/GalleryFilmstrip.aspx?gallery=33751&photo=1066658

 

[Jody Radzik]

The MIPS—short for Mobile Integrated Profiling System—is equipped with a radar, a laser, a microwave radiometer and other instruments which can measure wind, temperature, pressure, aerosols and water vapor content in vertical columns up to 10 km high.

That's what I want for Christmas.