Morning Glory

[Pedro]

Yes, I know what you were thinking when you read the headline. But no ... its unique to the Gulf of Carpentaria and occurs every spring. I have witnessed it from Sweers Island some years ago.... http://www.amusingplanet.com/2010/06...ory-cloud.html

[Burnout]

I flew the Glory a couple of times while flying in the Gulf in the 80's. First time in a 172 Skylane, the effect of it was interesting as it lifted the tail about 3 degrees and raised the indicated speed by about 5knots. It wasn't to dissimilar to to surfing, which is how we described it.
From up there tis a beautiful thing.

[jaydee]

Full of sexual innuendo if you ask me.

The Morning Glory cloud is a rare meteorological phenomenon observed in Northern Australia's Gulf of Carpentaria. A Morning Glory cloud is a roll cloud that can be up to 1000 kilometers long, 1 to 2 kilometers high, and can move at speeds up to 60 kilometers per hour. The Morning Glory is often accompanied by sudden wind squalls, intense low-level wind shear, a rapid increase in the vertical displacement of air parcels, and a sharp pressure jump at the surface. In the front of the cloud, there is strong vertical motion that transports air up through the cloud and creates the rolling appearance, while the air in the middle and rear of the cloud becomes turbulent and sinks.

[Spurious]

...& here I was thinking we were gonna have a manly discussion about which part of you wakes up first!