'Corkscrew' cloud over Schofields

[big_dav_2001 (Davin)]

Spotted this corkscrew-shaped cloud on the way home today, I've never seen anything like it before... Tried to photo it as best I could with my camera phone, but please excuse the poor quality.

Can anyone identify/explain what it is??

Davin

[big_dav_2001 (Davin)]

I can only post one photo per post from my phone, excuse my replies

[big_dav_2001 (Davin)]

And again..

[Stefan12]

Looks like kelvin helmholtz instability clouds mate.

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Weird corkscrew cloud Davin, maybe it was a contrail that was disturbed by a high altitude wind?

On a side note, check out the elephant cloud between the give way sign and the curved light pole! It's got ears and a tail and everyfink!

Cheers

Chris

[gregbradley]

I was going to say the same. A contrail from a jet that has expanded due to wind etc.

Greg.

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by Stefan12

Looks like kelvin helmholtz instability clouds mate.

That is EXACTLY what it is.

Beautiful phenomena - only seen it a handful of times myself.

[big_dav_2001 (Davin)]

Originally Posted by Stefan12

Looks like kelvin helmholtz instability clouds mate.

Thanks Stefan.. Yep, it definitely looks like what I saw.. Interesting phenomena though, I haven't seen anything like it before. According to what I have read, they're relatively rare to photograph due to them not lasting much more than a minute or two, this one hung around for a little while longer than that, but I still think I got pretty lucky

Davin

[blink138 (Pat)]

i thought it looks more like a "negative reality inversion"
that is what neil from the very funny series " the young ones" would call it!
pat

[LewisM]

Saturnian version:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sa..._Helmholtz.jpg

[deanm (Dean)]

In the 3rd pic, the give way sign is actually demonstrating that the cloud exhibits a right-handed thread...!

Dean