Is The Sky Falling Or Did You See A ‘Hole Punch’ Cloud?

Chicken Little, I decided to pass and move on. On most Thursday mornings before I head to the University of Georgia, I take the trash and recycle bins to the curb. On this particular morning, I looked up at the sky as I often do. As an atmospheric scientist, something immediately caught my eye. It was the presence of a “hole punch” cloud. They are also called “fall streak” clouds or “fall streak” holes. I quickly ran back to the house and grabbed my camera. I have long been familiar with them but had never one with my own eyes. What are these strange ‘hole punch” clouds anyhow?

The National Weather Service-Lacrosse, Wisconsin office has a good answer to that question so there is no reason to reinvent the wheel. According to the website, a fall streak hole or “hole punch” cloud forms when,

high to mid level clouds, such as altocumulus, are often composed of tiny water droplets that are much colder than freezing, but have yet to freeze. These “supercooled” water droplets need a “reason” to freeze, which usually comes in the form of ice crystals. Planes passing through the cloud layer can bring these ice crystals. Once the ice crystals are introduced, the water droplets quickly freeze, grow and start to fall. A hole is left behind, which will start to expand outward as neighboring droplets start to freeze.

The concept of liquid water existing at temperatures colder than 32 degrees F may seem weird to you, but it is something quite familiar to most meteorologists or atmospheric scientists. Water with relative few bacterial, pollution, or natural particles is most likely to experience the process of “supercooling.” Airplanes often produce aerodynamic contrails. You know…those clouds that some conspiracy theorists claim are being used to control the weather or our minds. They are not “chemtrails,” but clouds (“contrails”) created as moist air cools and condensation happens because of lowered pressure. Atmospheric conditions supportive of contrails are fertile ground for the formation of fall streak or “hole punch” clouds. The streak of “clouds” in the middle of the hole are composed of ice and is the actual “fall streak.”

The fall streak cloud that I photographed (above) was the more typical “hole” type. However under certain atmospheric conditions, a “canal cloud” can be produced. Canal clouds are longer and thinner. According to NASA, “the thickness of the cloud layer, the air temperature, and the degree of horizontal wind shear” determines the size and orientation of the cloud feature. John Trostel is a colleague and friend of mine who works at the Georgia Tech Research Institute. Trostel, a principal research scientist, also lives in the Atlanta area. He posted the picture below on the same day that I photographed my picture. He captured a canal cloud.

This week was quite optimal for “hole punch” or canal clouds over Georgia. The National Weather Service Peachtree City posted satellite imagery on its Facebook page on the day prior to my observation. The weather satellite imagery (below) clearly indicates the presence of several “hole punch clouds” over central Georgia. With cool morning temperatures and middle level cloud decks, the atmosphere was conducive for these types of clouds. Additionally, the Atlanta airport is one of the busiest in the world so there are plenty of ascending and descending airplanes in the area. Air expands and cools (this is called adiabatic cooling) as it moves over airplane wings. This slight cooling is just enough to initiate the freezing process to produce the ice-laden fall streaks and resulting evaporation of the supercooled droplets around them.

Isn’t science cool? (Pun intended)

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While lured to broaden on Chicken Little, I chose to pass and carry on. On many Thursday early mornings prior to I head to the University of Georgia, I take the garbage and recycle bins to the curb. On this specific early morning, I searched for at the sky as I typically do. As a climatic researcher, something right away captured my eye. It was the existence of a” hole punch” cloud. They are likewise called “fall streak “clouds or” fall streak “holes. I rapidly ran back to your house and got my electronic camera. I have actually long recognized with them however had never ever one with my own eyes. What are these weird’ hole punch” clouds anyways?

The
National Weather Condition Service-Lacrosse, Wisconsin workplace has a great response to that concern so there is no factor to transform the wheel. According to the site, a fall streak hole or “hole punch” cloud kinds when(*** ),(**** )

high to mid level clouds, such as altocumulus, are
typically made up of small water beads that are much cooler than freezing, however have yet to freeze. These” supercooled” water beads require a” factor “to freeze, which generally can be found in the type of ice crystals. Airplanes going through the cloud layer can bring these ice crystals. When the ice crystals are presented, the water beads rapidly freeze, grow and begin to fall. A hole is left, which will begin to broaden outside as surrounding beads begin to freeze. (**** )

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The principle of liquid water existing at temperature levels cooler than32 degrees F might appear odd to you, however it is something rather familiar to many meteorologists or climatic researchers. Water with relative couple of bacterial, contamination, or natural particles is more than likely to experience the procedure of “supercooling.” Airplanes typically produce aerodynamic contrails. You understand … those clouds that some conspiracy theorists declare are being utilized to manage the weather condition or our minds They are not” chemtrails,” however clouds (” contrails”) developed as damp air cools and condensation occurs since of reduced pressure. Climatic conditions encouraging of contrails are fertile ground for the development of fall streak or” hole punch” clouds. The streak of” clouds “in the middle of the hole are made up of ice and is the real” fall streak. “(**** )

Today was rather optimum for “hole punch” or canal clouds over Georgia. The National Weather Condition Service Peachtree City published satellite images on its Facebook page on the day prior to my observation. The weather condition satellite images (listed below) plainly shows the existence of a number of “hole punch clouds” over main Georgia. With cool early morning temperature levels and middle level cloud decks, the environment contributed for these kinds of clouds. Furthermore, the Atlanta airport is among the busiest worldwide so there are a lot of rising and coming down planes in the location. Air broadens and cools (this is called adiabatic cooling) as it moves over aircraft wings. This small cooling is simply enough to start the freezing procedure to produce the ice-laden fall streaks and resulting evaporation of the supercooled beads around them.

Isn’t science cool? (Pun planned)