Have you ever laid on the ground and looked for shapes in the clouds. You might have seen different animals, hearts, or racecars. But have you ever seen one that looks like a flying saucer? If you live near mountains, there is a good chance that you have.
Clouds form when water vapor in the air cools and condenses [changes from a gas to a liquid] on dust particles. Different types of clouds form based on their height in the sky and the temperature of the air. You might be familiar with some different types of clouds. Cirrus clouds are highest in the sky. They are thin and wispy because they are made of ice crystals. Cumulus clouds are individual, puffy clouds that form at middle altitudes. They are made of water droplets and can be white or gray. Stratus clouds form a blanket across the sky. They are also made of water droplets and form at low altitudes.
Flying saucer clouds are also called lenticular clouds. These clouds form at high altitudes near mountain ranges. When moist air blows over a mountain, it forms waves on the other side. If temperatures are cool enough, water vapor in the air will condense and clouds will form. These clouds form in unique shapes that can look like a lens or saucer. Sometimes these clouds also have bright colors around their edges.
Though lenticular clouds are beautiful to observe, they are avoided by airplane pilots. They are associated with turbulence as a result of the air moving over the mountain and can result in a bumpy ride.
What Do You Think? Lenticular clouds have been mistaken for UFOs (unidentified flying objects). Search for pictures of lenticular clouds online. Do they look like a UFO? Why or why not?
Photo Credit: WeatherVideoHD.TV
