While out on game drive a one morning in late January, skies were mostly clear and setting up to be a fantastic morning out there. Deep in the search for the Ximungwe Female’s Den, I found myself traversing along the fringe of open grasslands and the combretum thickets to the east of them. Here I found a journey of giraffes going about their usual morning business. It was only upon stopping and spending time watching the giraffe did I began to notice something fairly unusual in the sky.
Such a picturesque scene with this journey of giraffe, the open grasslands and these unusual clouds.
Apart from the towering necks and heads of the six giraffes, the expansive blue sky was decorated with multiple miniature cloud formations resembling the fascinating shapes of a sea of jellyfish drifting on by. A mildly unusual sight to be seen out in the middle of the African Savanna. Or is it?
“Jellyfish clouds” is a term sometimes used colloquially to describe a particular formation of altocumulus clouds that bears a resemblance to the shape of a jellyfish. Altocumulus clouds are mid-level clouds that typically form between 6,500 and 20,000 feet (2,000 to 6,000 meters) above ground level. They are characterized by their fluffy, rounded masses or patches.
When altocumulus clouds are arranged in a particular way, with elongated cloud elements extending downwards beneath the main cloud mass, they can sometimes resemble the tentacles of a jellyfish, hence the nickname.
These formations often occur in certain atmospheric conditions, such as when there are unstable air masses present or when there is a combination of moisture and turbulence at mid-level altitudes. While altocumulus clouds themselves are not uncommon, the specific appearance of jellyfish-like formations within them is relatively rare and is often seen as an intriguing sight by observers.
It’s important to note that cloud formations are highly variable and can take on a wide range of shapes and appearances, influenced by factors such as temperature, humidity, and wind patterns in the atmosphere. As such, while jellyfish clouds are a fascinating phenomenon when they occur, they are not a distinct type of cloud in and of themselves, but rather a specific configuration within the broader category of altocumulus clouds.
So although we associate jellyfish with the ocean, it is not uncommon to see jellyfish clouds here.
Ha! What a lovely, whimsical post, Sean.
Sean, thanks for the pictures. As a pilot I have seen these clouds before but, it is always a beautiful sighting.
Fantastic photos , Sean. This dark blue sky with the white jellyfish clouds , the green of the landscape below and the journey of giraffe- just perfect.
What a sight, the picture with the giraffe and jellyfish clouds is unique. Besides any scientific explanation it is just a lovely sight, as you wrote. I live at the seaside, not far from mountains and plains, and the carsic formation of the rocks and vegetation, there are many ecosystems in a single territory, but I don’t recall such a sight… I love to take pictures of clouds so i have several examples, but not this. Original blog thank you!
There is an artist in Kynsna who actually paints jelly fish as clouds – his art is whimsical and delightful.
I have loved cloud formations since childhood. I used to love to lay in the grass and just look up and watch the clouds form, reform, and pass through, and I still love doing this today! That said, I’ve never seen this particular formation, the Jellyfish!!. So cool Sean, and thanks for posting about these natural wonders!!
Does an unusual event usually follow???!!! 😉
Beautiful clouds Sean, and very interesting how they accumulate and shape like a jellyfish.
Fun post today Sean. I’ve always found clouds fascinating and love taking images of unusual ones, although many seem to appear while I’m driving….. do you ever see rainbow or lenticular clouds in Londolozi?
How interesting. I don’t recall ever seeing this particular formation before. In the USA during winter we often get “sun dogs” and I like to see those (although best viewed with polarized sunglasses).
Bluebird sky and cotton clouds. Beautiful photography from Sean.