Arctic Clouds receive orderly planning consent
Arctic Clouds appeared in long parallel rows over the Laptev Sea in a NASA satellite image. The atmosphere has finally been given a clipboard and told to stop milling about.
Frigid Arctic air crossed warmer open water. Rising air formed cumulus clouds while sinking air left clear lanes, creating a neighbourhood with excellent ventilation and no chance of a Deliveroo rider.
Scientists call the formation cloud streets. Estate agents call it a rare linear development with uninterrupted sea views, abundant natural light and a commute of nine thousand kilometres to the nearest Pret.
The sky adopts lane discipline
“Cloud Avenue is ideal for young vapour looking to condense,” said Nimbus Crescent, Senior Agent at Stratus and Sons. “Prices are expected to drift east this afternoon.”
The Bureau of Celestial Highways has painted invisible markings across the Arctic. Clouds must stay in lane, indicate before dissipating and use the outside band only when overtaking a pressure system.
Weather forecasters can now offer traffic reports for the upper atmosphere. Congestion is building near Cirrus Junction, visibility is slow past Freezing Fog Services and vapour should avoid the thunder roundabout.
NASA’s image shows how cold air and warmer water organise convection into striking lines. Britain’s transport department has requested the technology, chiefly because the clouds formed straight routes without closing the sea for weekend engineering.
The development leaves no forwarding address
By evening the cloud streets had moved on. The sky left no forwarding address but did retain the full deposit for cleaning.
Read the real story: NASA Earth Observatory’s report on cloud streets over the Laptev Sea.
