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Sea ice and cloud streets in Sea of Okhotsk

Posted by in Today's Image | February 13, 2016

Cloud streets are long rows of cumulus clouds, oriented parallel to the direction of the wind.

NASA's Aqua satellite captured this image of cloud streets and sea ice in the Sea of Okhotsk on Feb. 8, 2016. Image via NASA/ LANCE/EOSDI.

NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this image of cloud streets and sea ice in the Sea of Okhotsk on Feb. 8, 2016. Image via NASA/ LANCE/EOSDI.

Have you heard of cloud streets? NASA says:

They are long parallel bands of cumulus clouds that form when cold air blows over warmer waters and a warmer air layer (temperature inversion) rests over the top of both.

The image above is from NASA’s Aqua satellite. It shows cloud streets over the Sea of Okhotsk, on the edge of Russia, to the north of Japan.

Read more about cloud streets

Via NASA

Deborah Byrd

Deborah Byrd

Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.

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