A strange cloud spotted by a NASA satellite

earthpressnews
A strange cloud spotted by a NASA satellite

On May 28, NASA’s Terra satellite photographed a strangely shaped cloud over the Caspian Sea. Completely isolated above this huge body of water in Asia, the cloud has an amazing circular appearance, worthy of a cartoon or a science fiction film.

You will also be interested


[EN VIDÉO] 5 clouds to recognize to predict the weather For millennia, humans have learned to predict the weather through cues from nature. Among them, clouds can give a good idea of ​​the short-term weather.

The round cloud photographed by the Nasa surprising for several reasons: The Caspian sea is rarely clear and usually at least partly cloudy, and the cloud pictured appears completely isolated from any other weather phenomenon.

The astonishing round cloud photographed by a satellite on May 28. © Nasa

For the Nasa, the phenomenon, although surprising, has nothing artificial or even supernatural about it. This is a stratocumulusa very common cloud that extends horizontally over large distances with various shapes: that of the caspian sea stretches over 100 km in length, at an estimated altitude of 1,500 meters. This type of cloud is quite thick (on average 600 meters thick) and can darken the sky considerably. The stratocumulus appear in the form of frayed sheets and can generate a light shower, but it is rather rare.

Stratocumulus clouds, like here, can take many shapes, but they often appear slender.

Stratocumulus clouds, like here, can take many shapes, but they often appear slender.

the cloud round, which was photographed in the middle of the sea in the morning, then shifted towards the Russian coast in the afternoon. This is a cloud that forms in unstable weather: theair The hot, dry Balkan probably met the moist, cooler air from the sea, hence it formed in the middle of the water, before dissipating once it got inland. But where does this rather unusual circular shape for a stratocumulus cloud come from? According to NASA, this very sharp shape, which seems cut with a knife, is typical of a cloud created by warm air arriving suddenly over a body of cooler water. A form not often seen over the Caspian Sea, but common on the west coast of Africa.

Reading ideas for the summer with Futura?

To celebrate the start of the holidays, we offer you the Mag Futura at the preferential price of 15 € instead of 19 €, i.e. a reduction of 20% !

9262675d48 50191058 20 magazine papier 1

What is Mag Futura?

  • Our first paper journal of more than 200 pages to make science accessible to as many people as possible
  • 4 major scientific questions for 2022, from the Earth to the Moon
  • Home delivery*

*Special offer valid until July 19. Delivery is made in France (excluding metropolitan France), Switzerland, Belgium.

Interested in what you just read?

fs11