Lenticular Clouds

SCRIPT: Lenticular clouds are formed when smooth flowing (laminar flowing) air is lifted upwards. This uplift is usually associated with a topographical feature like a mountain. As the air lifts up it cools. If the cooling is sufficient, condensation will take place and cloud droplets will form to create a cloud. In this particular case the wind was blowing from the west over the Bradshaw Mountains north of Phoenix, Arizona. Kelvin--Helmholtz instability or Kelvin - Helmholtz clouds are formed when one layer of the atmosphere is moving at a different speed than the adjacent layer. The region between the two layers experiences a subtle amount of friction that creates a deflection or wave. The wave is enlarged as the flow of air continues. This wave results in instability that can disrupt the normal laminar flow of air to create turbulence. Although the air aloft was moving from west to east, the clouds appear to be stationary over the length of the video.