4 ms·
the "silver lining" was most of the way through the article: > Sun glint can also reveal an otherwise invisible feature in Earth’s atmosphere: atmospheric grav
by sprayk 5y ago
the "silver lining" was most of the way through the article:
> Sun glint can also reveal an otherwise invisible feature in Earth’s atmosphere: atmospheric gravity waves, which are simply waves of air moving through stable portions of the atmosphere. Triggered by anything from passing over a mountain to a thunderstorm updraft, these bands of air move upward until gravity tugs them back down, over and over again. You can think of them as airy versions of the ripples that result from a stone tossed into a still pond. Over open water, these air waves alter the reflectivity of the surface. In areas where sun glint is present, this creates the illusion of long, large ocean waves. Clouds often form along the crest of the atmospheric gravity waves, enhancing their similarity to surf when imaged by a satellite.