Cool Science Image

This CSI is an extremely rare atmospheric treat. What we’re looking at are cloud patterns, created by gravity waves off the coast of Baja California. The GOES weather satellite captured the phenomenon on Sept. 30, 2001. The waves seen in the atmosphere are similar to ripples we’d see if one dropped a pebble into a pond.

According to Chris Velden, of the UW-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center, the atmospheric waves are a result of turbulence from strong downdraft winds associated with thunderstorms on the outer band of tropical cyclone Juliette. Juliette was located just to the east of the waves in the Gulf of California.

The turbulent winds swept down the rugged slopes of the Baja mountain range, enhancing the wave phenomenon. As the winds crashed to the surface, they created waves in the atmosphere (much like the ripple from the pebble tossed into the pond). The GOES imagery was able to capture this phenomenon because clouds were formed and rippled along with the atmospheric waves.

The waves traveled at approximately 30mph and are seen here at a couple of thousand feet above the surface. An inversion (sudden increase in temperature with height), typical of the marine layer along the coast of Baja, trapped the atmospheric waves so they kept their amplitude for quite some time.

An added bonus in this atmospheric CSI is the visibility of rare von Karman vortices. If you look downstream of Isla Guadalupe, you’ll notice the agitated swirl pattern of the von Karman vortices. These von Karman vortices are caused by the atmospheric flow rushing down the Isla Guadalupe mountains and creating eddies, or whirlpools, in the island’s wake.

GOES image courtesy of the UW-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center.


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			Need a little atmosphere? This CSI is an extremely rare atmospheric treat. What we’re looking at are cloud patterns, created by gravity waves off the coast of Baja California. The GOES weather satellite captured the phenomenon on Sept. 30, 2001. The waves seen in the atmosphere are similar to ripples we’d see if one dropped a pebble into a pond. According to Chris Velden, of the UW-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center, the atmospheric waves are a result of turbulence from strong downdraft winds associated with thunderstorms on the outer band of tropical cyclone Juliette. Juliette was located just to the east of the waves in the Gulf of California. The turbulent winds swept down the rugged slopes of the Baja mountain range, enhancing the wave phenomenon. As the winds crashed to the surface, they created waves in the atmosphere (much like the ripple from the pebble tossed into the pond). The GOES imagery was able to capture this phenomenon because clouds were formed and rippled along with the atmospheric waves. The waves traveled at approximately 30mph and are seen here at a couple of thousand feet above the surface. An inversion (sudden increase in temperature with height), typical of the marine layer along the coast of Baja, trapped the atmospheric waves so they kept their amplitude for quite some time. An added bonus in this atmospheric CSI is the visibility of rare von Karman vortices. If you look downstream of Isla Guadalupe, you’ll notice the agitated swirl pattern of the von Karman vortices. These von Karman vortices are caused by the atmospheric flow rushing down the Isla Guadalupe mountains and creating eddies, or whirlpools, in the island’s wake. GOES image courtesy of the UW-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center.