Orographic lift
Videos
Orographic lift occurs when an air mass is forced from a low elevation to a higher elevation as it moves over rising terrain. Orography is the study of the topographic relief of mountains. As the air
A gravity wave cloud pattern—analogous to a ship wake—in the downwind zone behind the Île Amsterdam, seen from above over the far southern Indian Ocean. The island generates wave motion in the wind passing over it, creating regularly spaced orographic clouds. The wave crests raise and cool the air to form clouds, while the troughs remain too low for cloud formation. Note that while the wave motion is generated by orographic lift, it is not required. In other words, one cloud often forms at the peak. See
Precipitation induced by orographic lift in Andalusia.
Windy evening twilight enhanced by the Sun's angle, can visually mimic a tornado resulting from orographic lift
Lenticular cloud over Arenal Volcano
Weather front
Videos
A weather front is a boundary separating air masses for which several characteristics differ, such as air density, wind, temperature, and humidity. Disturbed and unstable weather due to these differen
Approaching weather fronts are often visible from the ground, but are not always as well defined as this.
A shelf cloud such as this one can be a sign that a squall is imminent
Convective precipitation
ISS 48 Towering cumulonimbus and other clouds over the Earth