Morning glory cloud

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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.

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.

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.

[edit] 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