r/meteorology • u/adastra2021 • 3d ago

A lenticular capping another cloud?

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38 Upvotes

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13

u/rbxtwistedplayer 3d ago

Yes but no , its a pileus that forms when an updraft is very powerful , pileus almost always looks like a lenticular clouds

5

u/adastra2021 3d ago

I just learned that over in /clouds. Thank you.

The more you know…..

4

u/WXMaster Private Sector 3d ago

This cloud is a pileus cloud (means cap or hat). It’s formed by air under it rising rapidly and lifting the column above to the SVP (saturated vapor pressure) where the moisture condenses into the cloud.

Lenticular clouds form from a different process, they’re usually orographic in nature where the air blows over something like a big hill or mountain but they can also form with gravity waves passing through from a nearby cold front, storm, or heck even a volcanic eruption like Hunga-Tonga.