Morning Glory cloud
The Morning Glory cloud in Australia’s Gulf of Carpentaria is one of the most spectacular meteorological phenomena in the world. One kilometre high and stretching from horizon to horizon it is a massive pressure wave in the atmosphere that is still not well understood despite many research projects. The scientific term for the Glory is a Soliton.
In 1989 Rob Thompson and Russell White first soared a glider on the Morning Glory, riding it just like a surfboard rider does on an ocean wave. Since then they have been back many times and have been able, on occasions to surf along the cloud for hundreds of kilometres.
Rob works in the film and television industry and over the years has accumulated many hours of stock library video footage of the Morning Glory and the Gulf region. Samples of this film are available for download at www.aerialvideo.com.au and Russell has a collection of excellent still images at his web site
The best vantage point to see Australia's Morning Glory is from Burketown in the remote Far North Queensland around September and October. Towns in this part of the world are small and a long way apart and Burketown has an influx of glider and hang-glider pilots at this time of year so it can be difficult to get accommodation if you don't have your own camping gear. www.aerialvideo.com.au has a page with tourist links.
Similar spectacular Morning Glory type roll clouds have also been reported to occasionally happen off the Mexican coast in the Sea of Cortez. The phenomenon has also been observed from Sable Island, a small Canadian island located 180 km southwest of Nova Scotia. In contrast to Australia’s Gulf of Carpentaria where the Morning Glory cloud is visible in the morning, the cloud has a predilection to hit the island in the early evening.
External links
- Aerial Video Australia has downloadable video of the Morning Glory
- DropBears.com on the Morning Glory phenomenon, with aerial photos of the cloud.
- hang glider soaring hang gliding on the Morning Glory phenomenon, with aerial photos and videos of the cloud.
- ABC Australia with images of soaring the Morning Glory.
- Cloud Appreciation Society Article on the Morning Glory, images, and video.
- Sable Island Green Horse Society Sable Island: Morning Glory Cloud
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