Uploaded October 2019 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
What's with the Globers and this illusive force called Gravity? It seems that every wave-ripple in fluids caused by some type of disturbances-forces is gravity wave and the gravity is the cause lmao. Are the seismic waves from earthquakes also gravity waves?!
From the article:
Satellite images have captured a usually invisible phenomenon known as atmospheric gravity waves pulsing through clouds off Western Australia's north-west.
Key points:
Gravity waves happen all the time, but are usually invisible
This one was spectacularly captured when it interacted with clouds and dust
They rarely cause problems on the ground, but can increase aircraft turbulence
Thunderstorms in the Pilbara and Kimberley on Monday and Tuesday triggered the waves, which spread out over the Indian Ocean and combined with a plume of dust to create a spectacular and rarely-seen display.
Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) senior meteorologist Adam Morgan said atmospheric gravity waves were basically ripples in the sky.
"When you think of waves in the ocean, they're a type of gravity wave," he said.
"When you throw a rock in a pond and you see the ripples flowing out, they're gravity waves as well.
"Essentially gravity waves are disturbances in any sort of fluid, so we see them often in water, but the atmosphere is a fluid as well — so any sort of disturbances in there can generate waves."
On this occasion, the disturbance was the cold air flowing out from a thunderstorm on a very hot day.
"There was a big thunderstorm over the north-west of WA and the disturbance in this case was the cold air falling out of the thunderstorm and into the warmer air near the surface," Dr Morgan said.
"The difference in density there causes the disturbance and then the gravity wave can travel out as the cold air spreads out.
"The disturbance will exist until everything rebalances itself, that's why they can travel a long way.
"They travel a really long distance until they peter out. If you've ever been to the swimming pool and someone jumps in and does a dive bomb at one end of the pool, you might get the wave right at the other end of the pool after a bit of time."
Clouds and dust reveal 'common' event
Although the gravity waves themselves are invisible, these were picked up by satellite imagery because bands of cloud formed along the wave crests.
"They're very, very common, they happen all the time, but they're usually invisible," Dr Morgan said.
"When we do see them it's usually when there's enough moisture in the air"
What's with the Globers and this illusive force called Gravity? It seems that every wave-ripple in fluids caused by some type of disturbances-forces is gravity wave and the gravity is the cause lmao. Are the seismic waves from earthquakes also gravity waves?!
From the article:
Satellite images have captured a usually invisible phenomenon known as atmospheric gravity waves pulsing through clouds off Western Australia's north-west.
Key points:
Gravity waves happen all the time, but are usually invisible
This one was spectacularly captured when it interacted with clouds and dust
They rarely cause problems on the ground, but can increase aircraft turbulence
Thunderstorms in the Pilbara and Kimberley on Monday and Tuesday triggered the waves, which spread out over the Indian Ocean and combined with a plume of dust to create a spectacular and rarely-seen display.
Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) senior meteorologist Adam Morgan said atmospheric gravity waves were basically ripples in the sky.
"When you think of waves in the ocean, they're a type of gravity wave," he said.
"When you throw a rock in a pond and you see the ripples flowing out, they're gravity waves as well.
"Essentially gravity waves are disturbances in any sort of fluid, so we see them often in water, but the atmosphere is a fluid as well — so any sort of disturbances in there can generate waves."
On this occasion, the disturbance was the cold air flowing out from a thunderstorm on a very hot day.
"There was a big thunderstorm over the north-west of WA and the disturbance in this case was the cold air falling out of the thunderstorm and into the warmer air near the surface," Dr Morgan said.
"The difference in density there causes the disturbance and then the gravity wave can travel out as the cold air spreads out.
"The disturbance will exist until everything rebalances itself, that's why they can travel a long way.
"They travel a really long distance until they peter out. If you've ever been to the swimming pool and someone jumps in and does a dive bomb at one end of the pool, you might get the wave right at the other end of the pool after a bit of time."
Clouds and dust reveal 'common' event
Although the gravity waves themselves are invisible, these were picked up by satellite imagery because bands of cloud formed along the wave crests.
"They're very, very common, they happen all the time, but they're usually invisible," Dr Morgan said.
"When we do see them it's usually when there's enough moisture in the air"
