A community of cloud lovers from across the globe. Click the image above to download the School's Survival Kit for the Imaginatinon.
Join in the fun in capturing the beautiful clouds that abound around us. Send your cloud photos from local sightings to across the globe to Wendy.DeGraffenried@matsuk12.us Include the name of the spotter, date, and where it was spotted.
I'm happy to point you in the direction of my friend, Gavin Pretor-Pinny, founder and member 0001 of the Cloud Appreciation Society. They're doing some great stuff there, if you want to learn more about clouds and how to get involved with other cloud nerds, look no furture. Tell Gavin, Nurse Wendy sent you! The Cloud Appreciation Society.
Spotted by: Wendy DeGraffenried, Matanuska Valley
Spotted by: Wendy DeGraffenried, New Seward Hwy
Spotted by: Wendy DeGraffenried, Wasilla Lake
Spotted by: Wendy DeGraffenried, Matanuska Valley
Spotted by: Wendy DeGraffenried, Mat-Su Valley
Spotted by: Wendy DeGraffenried, Mat-Su Valley
Sunset Altostratus
Spotted by: Wendy DeGraffenried, Bogard Rd. Wasilla, AK
Spotted by: Wendy DeGraffenried, Mat-Su Valley
Spotted by Julie Miller, October 2022, Mat-Su Valley, Alaska
Kelvin-Helmholtz (The Wave Cloud)
Spotted by Jonna Naylor, October 2022, Eagle River, Alaska
Radiatus
Spotted by Wendy DeGraffenried, November 2022, Homer, Alaska
Spotted in Hawaii, this cloud hovered over the mountain, Amber Bena (our front office secretary), was intrigued with the unusual fanfair of the sky. Lenticularis is latin for "lentil," the classic shape of this cloud. Jane Keller, also in Hawaii, staying nearby, also spotted the same cloud and said it didn't move from that spot all day. and sent me a picture that matched Amber's. The sun heats the mountain that causes the warm air to rise. Once it rises to the sky it begins to cool, condensing to create the illusion the cloud is not moving, but it is, slowly dissipating to the viewers left creating the baby lenticularis to the south (sunset in the west shining to the east, creating the dark shadow from the cloud itself).
I'm lucky to have such great colleagues that send me their cloud pictures from all over the world. Keep your eyes to the skies, friends, there are amazing clouds to see!
From the upstairs windows at Mat-Su Central, our IT guru, Miguel Velez Moreno, spotted this lovely sunrise. In my book, this is the best way to start your workday! Spotted August 2023
Friend and colleague Rhonda Lackey, the school nurse at Wasilla High School, spotted this unusual optical phenomenon known as Iridescence. Spotted in Wasilla, Alaska, August 2023