 EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes
and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and
archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


 Changing Clouds Ahead

   February 18, 2021

    Capture
   Photographer:  Bonnie Keller
   Summary Authors:  Bonnie Keller; Jim Foster

   While driving to get my  COVID vaccine a few weeks back, I noticed
   the odd sky pictured above near Fairfax, Virginia. You could almost
   believe that the road sign at right is alerting the driver to --
   Changing Clouds Ahead. The air temperature at the time was 46 F (8 C).
   Behind me were mostly broken  altostratus clouds, with sunlight
   streaming through. Ahead, in the background, were clouds from the
    cumulus family, and in the mid-ground and also above me were gray
   clouds that had the appearance, at least, of  mammatus.
   Additionally, note the  virga just ahead of me.

   During the winter season,  frontal systems and or upper air
    troughs can quickly change the sky cover. A weak cold front had
   passed through the day before, and  now a  shortwave trough was
   positioned to the east of the  Appalachian Mountains. There was just
   enough instability to generate a few snow showers, and at one or two
   spots in Fairfax County, a trace of snow was reported on the ground.
   Photo taken on January 18, 2021.
     * Fairfax, Virginia Coordinates:  38.8462, -77.3064

Related EPODs

    Changing Clouds Ahead  Kelvin-Helmholtz Clouds Over Albuquerque,
   New Mexico  Archive - Virga and Rays  Sunrise Mammatus Clouds
    Archive - Lenticular Cloud Display  Parisian Twilight Sky
    More...

Cloud Links

     *  Atmospheric Optics
     *  The Cloud Appreciation Society
     *  Cloud Atlas
     *  Color and Light in Nature

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   Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the  Universities
   Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu
 
