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Tubular Cloud Rolls Toward Horizon
A photo taken near Brazil captures a rare and beautiful “roll cloud,” a tubular cloud that seems to tumble across the sky.
Roll clouds are a type of arcus cloud, which is a category of low cloud formations. Their more common cousin is the shelf cloud, often seen on the leading edges of thunderstorms. Roll clouds sometimes form along with storms, too, born out of the storm’s downdraft. Sinking cold air causes warm, moist air on the planet’s surface to climb to higher altitudes, where the moisture condenses into cloud form. Winds from the storm “roll” the cloud parallel to the horizon, creating an effect that looks much like a horizontal tornado. Unlike shelf clouds, rolls clouds are completely detached from the bulk of the storm. (Gallery of Curious Clouds)
photo by Capt. Andreas M. van der Wurff
(via theatlantic)
Hamilton Pool, near Austin, Texas
Nambia
(via sam-wise-gamgee)
My favorite Wall Street, the one at Bryce Canyon. via Daily Mail.
Northern Lights and erupting Icelandic volcano produce stunning photographs by James Appleton.
Photographer James Appleton, 23, from Cambridge, risked his life trekking solo to the area and captured these incredible shots. The Cambridge University graduate spent five days observing the first phase of the eruption from a shack in nearby Fimmvorouhals mountain pass. He spent seven hours battling biting wind and freezing temperatures to get as close to the eruption as possible, against the advice of local guides. Despite being trapped inside a shack there for 48 hours, Mr Appleton managed to trek within 100ft of the volcano.
(via npr)
Wisteria Tunnel is an impressive flower walkway located in Kawachi Fuji Garden in Kitakyushu, Southern Japan (four-hour bus ride from Tokyo).
