Earlier this year, NASA’s Terra satellite captured an extraordinary view over the Gulf of Mexico, showcasing clouds that appeared like giant holes had been punched through the sky. These unique formations, known as cavum clouds, have intrigued observers since the 1940s, drawing comparisons to otherworldly phenomena.
Referred to as hole-punch clouds or fallstreak holes, cavum clouds stand out for their vast size, visible from the Earth’s surface and space, and their almost ethereal beauty. The enigma of these atmospheric features was solved roughly 15 years ago when researchers identified human activity, specifically aircraft, as the catalyst for their formation.
As airplanes fly through mid-level altocumulus clouds, consisting of supercooled water droplets, a series of physical reactions occur, creating these striking cloud formations. NASA’s Langley Research Center has shown that the aircraft’s trajectory through these clouds determines the cavum’s dimensions.
Surprisingly, any aircraft, from commercial flights to private jets, can generate these impressive cloud phenomena. NASA’s Terra satellite documented a remarkable instance of a cavum cloud “cluster” near the west coast of Florida, an area with heavy air traffic from over 1,000 daily flights at Miami International Airport.
@blacktiph Has anyone seen clouds like these before? We were fishing off Key West #strange #weather #clouds ♬ Stranger Things – Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein
The Terra satellite, tasked with observing Earth’s climate and atmospheric changes, is vital in examining human and natural influences on our planet’s environment.
