Kelvin-Helmholtz, the clouds that look like beautiful breaking sea waves

If one day you look up at the sky and notice clouds that look like breaking ocean waves, then don’t be surprised for these are the very special Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) clouds, also known as billow clouds and shear-gravity clouds. Needless to mention these are simply gorgeous and beyond words magical!
What is Kelvin-Helmholtz?


Named after the famous scientists, Lord Kelvin and Hermann von Helmholtz, Kelvin-Helmholtz (as per scientists) is a rare phenomenon, where such formations take place when there’s a velocity imbalance across the interface between two fluids, for instance, winds blowing over water.

This instability or indifference leads to such cloud formations, which can be noticed in the oceans, Saturn's bands, Jupiter's Red Spot, along with the Sun's corona. The possibility of witnessing these clouds is higher on windy days, as there’s a difference in densities of the air when it’s windy around.


Not only this, these clouds are also considered good indicators of atmospheric instability. These are also capable of indicating the presence of turbulence for aircraft.

It is also widely believed that Vincent Willem van Gogh was inspired by KH clouds when he created his masterpiece, The Starry Night. If you look at the painting, the clouds are in well-defined curve and swirls, just like those when KH clouds form.


The next time you step out on a cloudy windy day, try to keep your head high and look at the sky. You never know, you might just get lucky and spot these gorgeous creations! For now, you can enjoy these pictures.