Snow on Antelope Island Thanksgiving DaySnow on Antelope Island Thanksgiving Day – Nikon D300, f14, 1/640, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 20mm, natural light

There was snow on Antelope Island yesterday, just a light dusting actually, and I thought this scene taken from slightly south of Buffalo Point in the group campground area was beautiful with the snow on the ground and the fluffy clouds in the sky. It was lovely on the island yesterday but I didn’t take many bird images while I was there.

Kelvin Helmholtz clouds over the Wasatch Mountains, UtahKelvin Helmholtz clouds over the Wasatch Mountains – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 500, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 44mm, natural light

On the way to Farmington Bay WMA heading south on I-15 I saw some strange, wave cloud formations over the Wasatch Mountains. I’d never photographed this type of cloud formation before.

Weather conditions helped to create this cloud formation. Winds were high at the time, the signs on I-15 said to expect 55 mph winds which means the wind was much stronger higher up.

It is a shame the lighting conditions were terrible but I took some images out of the window anyway.

Kelvin Helmholtz instability clouds from I-15, Davis County, UtahKelvin Helmholtz instability clouds from I-15 – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 500, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 82mm, natural light

About these clouds from earthsky.org:

You’ll often see the characteristic wave structure in this type of cloud when two different layers of air in our atmosphere are moving at different speeds. The upper layers of air are moving at higher speeds and will often scoop the top of the cloud layer into these wave-like rolling structures.

The clouds often form on windy days, when there’s a difference in densities of the air, for example, during a temperature inversion. They’re often good indicators of atmospheric instability and the presence of turbulence for aircraft.

It’s widely believed that these waves in the sky inspired the swirls in van Gogh’s masterpiece Starry Night.

A more scientific explanation can be found here.

I’m a bit of a cloud watcher (geek) and I wanted to share the strange ones I saw on the way south on I-15. I really wish I would have had better light conditions though.

Life is good.

Mia