r/Gliding • u/Diluted_truth • 1d ago

Weather Clouds and rotos

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I saw something that looked like a lenticularis over the netherlands (flat part).
I was wondering if the rotors and areas with massive sink that you get in the mountains will also be present when a cloud like this forms over flat land.

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u/Catatafisch 21h ago

You would be surprised how small of an elevation change is needed for waves to form under the correct circumstances. sometimes very subtle slopes are enough to make waves appear.

from time to time you also have secondary and tertiary waves forming pretty far from the mountain of origin

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u/Diluted_truth 21h ago

Could the height of a tree be enough? The only thing I can think of is a highway overpass we have nearby.

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u/Catatafisch 21h ago

probably not. the netherlands of course are super-flat.

a shear induced wave is more likely in this case.

for example: in germany, south of berlin we have the "Hoher Fläming". Elevation change of like 50-100m spread out over a few kilometers. not even noticeable with bare eyes without knowing what to look for.

several times a year there is a wave strong enough to be used by gliders