One of the funniest ways to entertain yourself on a car ride is to try identifying shapes from clouds. It’s a decades-old game that families often play to pass the time. In the case of one particular cloud, the Morning Glory Cloud, any guess other than a worm-like figure in the sky would be wrong. Frequently found in Australia, this phenomenon has captured the attention of scientists and tourists alike.
Morning Glory Introduction
Better known as a “roll” or “arcus” cloud, Morning Glory is a tubular cloud formation stretching for miles. People often refer to Morning Glory as a giant worm-like figure appearing in a series rather than just one individual cloud. The mysterious nature of the cloud’s formation has been the subject of many conversations in the scientific community.
Early Discovery
The first true discovery of Morning Glory occurred in 1942 when the Royal Australian Air Force reported cloud activity. There are also reports that one of the ancient aboriginal tribes in Australia, the Garrwa, called it Kangolgi.
Cloud Location
If you want to see Morning Glory in person, the Gulf of Carpentaria, near Burketown, Queensland, is the best place to see the cloud formation. There have also been other sightings in the Kimberley region in Australia, Texas, Munich, and the English Channel.
Cloud Research
The first true research on Morning Glory occurred in the late 1960s by Australian meteorologist Reg H. Clarke. Other studies have taken place by scientists like Doug R. Christie, Rober A. Goler, Michael A. Page, Anne Porter, and Michael J. Reeder, all renowned climate and weather scientists.
The Formation
While no single agreed-upon explanation exists, some simple explanations include two independent sea breezes that clash, and the condensation within each breeze forms clouds. There are also reports of how the cooler temperature of the water level and the higher temperature of the air, known as an “inversed layer,” also play a role in Morning Glory’s formation.
Cloud Characteristics
Studies of these clouds indicate that they sit between 200 and 600 feet off the ground and are around 3,000 to 6,500 feet wide. Each cloud in the Morning Glory formation moves around 35 miles per hour.
Other Sightings
Across the last few decades, there have been multiple sightings of similar cloud formations. On October 22, 2015, a similar sighting occurred north of Winnipeg, Canada, and again on the 24th of October. Another sighting occurred near Sable Island, southeast of Nova Scotia, in April 2009 and again in Canada in Newfoundland in May 2022. Florida, Brazil, and the Gulf of California have been home to other sightings over the last twenty years.
Cultural Significance
One of the more unique aspects of Morning Glory is that it has become culturally significant for some of the local communities. Like the Garrwa tribe, other aboriginal communities are believed to have names for Morning Glory.
Morning Glory Festival
As one might suspect, this rare phenomenon has led to increased tourism near Burketown, which led to the formation of the Morning Glory Festival. Everyone from glider pilots to tourists with camera lenses the size of arms come to take photos of this unique cloud formation.
Continued Mystery
While there is no shortage of material around Morning Glory, its true explanation remains a mystery. Until scientists can provide a universally agreed-upon explanation, the world will continue to ask why this work-like cloud formation exists and what makes the area around Burketown so unique.
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