Gravity waves in the clouds

The satellite captured an image of gravity waves moving through the clouds early Friday morning. If you look carefully at the image to the left, you'll see ripples in the clouds which look similar to waves you see in the ocean.

This unique pattern is caused by wind moving up and down in waves. A trough of low pressure moved through the area which caused a wind shift and triggered the wave. Gravity waves are more common in the mountains and around thunderstorms where updrafts can cause sudden vertical displacement of the air.