Mountain Waves MET
For mountain waves to be formed, three things must be present:
A wind speed of at least 15 knots (if there were no wind, there would be no mountain waves) A wind direction of within 30 degree of the perpendicular (at right angles) to the mountain range (if the wind blew along the mountain range, there would be no waves - it has to blow across it.) A stable layer at or above the mountain top. This is so the rising air "bounces back" and creates the wave. This stable layer could be the tropopause and mountain waves have been known to reach it.
The mountain waves will form on the downwind side of the mountain and may create a distinctive type of cloud known as altocumulus lenticularis from the up and down movement of the air.
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