When I Grow Up

When I was a kid, I wanted to be everything at some point or another, but one of my big, Big, BIG dreams was to go into the field of meteorology and study clouds and predict weather patterns and chase tornadoes and maybe even be on TV.

So, you can imagine my excitement when today at work I heard that a new type of cloud had been discovered. As with many things you hear, that statement is mostly accurate. According to the National Geographic story that I read, this "new" cloud type has been observed and recorded in various places around the world since at least the 1950s.

Here's a shot of one of these new clouds from Iowa care of the Natl Geo article:
This type of cloud is an undulus asperatus cloud. It's characterized by rolling waves moving through the lower surface of the cloud, causing an undulating motion.

It's nickname is the "Jacques Cousteau" cloud because looking up at the clouds can remind you of looking up at the surface of the ocean from underwater.

My friend at work has nicknamed them "Apocalypse" clouds because they look like something you would see at the end of the world, especially when the sun hits them just right, as in this Natl Geo photo from New Zealand:

Don't you just love it? What a spectacular shot!