Photography: Storms From 30,000 Feet
Classic strong to severe thunderstorm southeast of the area around 3:15 p.m. one week ago.
As severe weather was passing through the area last Sunday, I was inbound on a flight returning from a trip to Florida. Though I was unhappy with the delay in landing caused by the storminess, I was fortunate to get an opportunity to shoot some thunderstorm photos from the air. Numerous cloud features were evident, and a unique opportunity to capture a "rainbow" from the sky presented itself.
Keep reading for more storm photos, and see our full forecast for upcoming weather conditions across the area.
I checked D.C. area radar through my cell phone before departing Tampa, Fl. and knew it was likely the storms would be to the east of the region upon arrival. I decided to sit on the right side of the plane to ensure I would get a good view to the east, and I sat far enough behind the wing to be able to take photos without having it in the image (unless I chose to add it -- as in one below, for scale).
All photographs were taken at ISO 100 with various shutter speeds between 1/400 second and 1/800 second. I used a zoom lens to be able to isolate various features. Fast shutter speeds allowed for fairly crisp images, but when shooting from a plane: always remember not to allow the camera to rest on the window or plane surface because of vibration. Photographing storms to the east during late afternoon had the added bonus of the sun behind the camera, which front-lit the clouds.
See the image captions for descriptions and links to more information on the cloud formations shown.
Clouds right outside the window of the plane while at cruising altitude near 30,000 feet above sea level.
Portion of a developing thunderstorm with small "rainbow" caused by clouds nearer to plane.
An overshooting top on a cumulonimbus incus, indicative of a strong updraft and typical of strong to severe thunderstorms.
A growing cumulonimbus with pileus cap.
By Ian Livingston |
August 3, 2008; 11:00 AM ET
Photography
,
Thunderstorms
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Posted by: Mike from the Blue Ridge | August 3, 2008 11:22 AM
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Very nice photos. I remember flying around a huge cumulonimbus cloud in Atlanta a few years back. Too bad I didn't have a camera!
Posted by: jtf | August 3, 2008 12:05 PM
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What no leftie global warming story today? Maybe a link to the Post story by the guy who is poo-pooing global warming?
Posted by: NOTMB | August 3, 2008 3:22 PM
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NOTMB,
FWIW:
- Items appearing in a section called "Outlook" are generally known as "opinion".
- Achenbach, the author, is primarily a humor writer.
- The WaPo is not seriously interested in climate.
Posted by: CapitalClimate | August 3, 2008 4:28 PM
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NOTMB, you must not be talking about today's op-ed, "Global Warming Did It! Well, Maybe Not."
Just to clarify (if you were indeed talking about the above article), were you being sarcastic when you said that article was "poo-pooing" global warming?
Sounds to me like it was poo-pooing irrational people who blame a single hurricane on global warming and go buy a Prius but don't concern themselves with other environmental issues like pesticide use, deforestation, excessive consumption and waste, etc.
Yuppies, that is.
Did you miss this sentence? "Moreover, the evidence for man-made climate change is solid enough that it doesn't need to be bolstered by iffy claims."
But again, maybe you were just being sarcastic. It's hard to tell.
Posted by: Laura in NWDC | August 3, 2008 4:38 PM
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Very nice pictures!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | August 3, 2008 4:51 PM
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In weather news, Tropical Storm Edouard has formed in the Gulf of Mexico.
Posted by: Ian, Capital Weather Gang | August 3, 2008 6:00 PM
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Tropical Storm Edouard is born in the GOM.
Posted by: CapitalClimate | August 3, 2008 6:04 PM
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NTOMB, I suggest you visit this site:
Posted by: jtf | August 3, 2008 7:28 PM
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Great photos, Mr. Livingston! Thanks for the descriptions as well!
It is a beautiful evening outside (Nice Evening Stamp?). Not humid, cool, no gnats. Hard to believe it is August. I'll enjoy it while it lasts (not long).
On a more tropical note, a recent run of the GDFL model shows Edouard reaching hurricane strength before making landfall on the Texas coast. Worth watching.
Posted by: Model Monkey | August 3, 2008 8:46 PM
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NOTMB -- Fyi, we average about 20-25 posts per week, with typically one or two of them (that's 4-10%) on the subject of climate change.
Posted by: Dan, Capital Weather Gang | August 3, 2008 10:09 PM
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CapitalClimate -- Re: "The WaPo is not seriously interested in climate." ... For sure the Post could do more on climate. But to say they are "not seriously interested" in the subject is misleading. They have a special Green section on their Web site that compiles articles on climate and related topics. Science writer Juliet Eilperin has covered climate and environmental issues for quite some time. And of course Capital Weather Gang's Andrew Freedman writes a weekly climate change column.
Posted by: Dan, Capital Weather Gang | August 3, 2008 10:39 PM
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Don't mind NOTMB. I've seen him here before, and there are strong trollish tendencies.
Posted by: jtf | August 3, 2008 10:42 PM
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Now, back on topic ... Ian -- awesome pics!
Posted by: Dan, Capital Weather Gang | August 3, 2008 10:54 PM
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Juliet Eilperin is NOT a science reporter. She has done some environment work, but now that all the good political reporters have fled the sinking ship to go to Politico, she's back doing politics.
Posted by: CapitalClimate | August 4, 2008 12:37 AM
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Re: Post alleged coverage
Do the math.
And technically speaking, "one or two" per week at CWG is logically equivalent to "one".
Posted by: CapitalClimate | August 4, 2008 12:43 AM
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Humor writer or not, Achenbach's column yesterday was right on. The continued irrational connection of every weather event to climate change is discounting, in the public eye (the one that really counts in the end) the real proven science about man's contribution to climate change.
Mark my words - there will be a public backlash once everyday American's figure out how much it will cost to address climate. Irrational screaming about every weather event and climate change only makes that backlash more inevitable, and increases the likelihood our country will do nothing about the problem.
Posted by: Southside FFX | August 4, 2008 9:34 AM
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How did this post, of all posts, turn into a soapbox?
Those are indeed great photos. Flying between and near thunderstorms is always a breathtaking good time.
Posted by: D | August 4, 2008 10:08 AM
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Nice photos Ian! I will have some comments on Achenbach's opinion piece tomorrow, along with some other climate items of note.
Posted by: Andrew Freedman, Capital Weather Gang | August 4, 2008 1:59 PM
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amazing pictures!
Posted by: madison | August 4, 2008 2:36 PM
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Thanks all.. no problem on the OT talk, it happens!
Posted by: Ian, Capital Weatehr Gang | August 4, 2008 5:37 PM
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The comments to this entry are closed.
Nice photos Ian and excellent description, interesting composition, thanks for posting!