Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H) wave clouds over the Aran Fawddwy ridge, Snowdonia National Park, Wales, UK

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Kelvin-Helmholtz wave clouds form in stable conditions when wind speed and direction are both steady, but if strong horizontal winds disturb the boundary between a warm air mass and a layer of cooler air below, the upper air may start to move at a faster rate than the lower, causing the crests of the waves to advance ahead of the main body of cloud. The result is a rare short-lived sequence of distinctive billowing clouds known as a Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H) wave, after the 19th century scientists who studied them. This example lasted about ten minutes and was photographed in the mountains of Snowdonia, North Wales.

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Size: 7115px × 2652px
Location: Snowdonia National Park, Wales, UK
Photo credit: © Vincent Lowe / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, aran, cloud, clouds, eec, eu, europe, fawddwy, helmholtz, hill, kelvin, kelvin-helmholtz, mountain, mountains, national, north, panorama, panoramic, park, ridge, scenic, sky, snowdonia, uk, wales, walking, wave, waves