Polar Winds

This VIS image shows 'streamers' of clouds created by katabatic winds at the north polar cap. Katabatic winds are created by cold air sinking at the pole and then speeding along the ice surface towards the edge of the polar cap. When the winds enter troughs the wind regime changes from laminar (smooth) flow to chaotic, and clouds of ice particles and/or dust are picked up and carried along. This wind activity peaks at the start of northern hemisphere summer.