A strange photo was recently posted online, which at first glance, many thought was an image of ocean waves. However, upon closer inspection of the entire picture, one realizes that “it looks like the ocean but it’s not.” This image has surprised many people, with some even feeling a bit frightened. So, what could this phenomenon be?
Nature has never ceased to amaze us. Recently, a woman named Theresa Lucas was driving through Bemidji, Minnesota, when she took a photo of the road ahead, mainly to capture a memory of her long drive.
What she didn’t expect was that this random snapshot would go viral on social media, as many people believed it depicted the sea.
Is this a photo of the ocean? (Photo: Theresa Lucas).
Theresa not only captured the road but also the sky in her photo. The issue is that the sky appears nothing like a typical sky; instead, it resembles the ocean with rolling waves. Theresa herself did not notice this while taking the picture. It was only after many comments and shares that she became aware of it.
It turns out it’s not the ocean. (Photo: Theresa Lucas).
Subsequently, Theresa’s photo was even reposted by a local TV channel, garnering even more attention. Internet users commented that if they only looked at the upper part of the image, they would immediately think it was a photo of the ocean. Only by scrolling down to see the entire picture and the road did they realize it was… the sea in the sky.
A few days ago, someone also captured clouds resembling tsunami waves in the sky over Ohio (USA) (though this is believed to be a different phenomenon from Theresa’s image). (Photo: Reddit).
Some people believe that the “ocean” in Theresa’s photo is an optical illusion, while others feel fear from this strange image. However, meteorologists have explained that it is asperatus clouds (sometimes spelled asperitas), which are very rare and were officially recognized by the World Meteorological Organization in 2017.
According to the definition, asperatus clouds are “distinct structures, resembling waves at the bottom of the cloud… when viewed from below, they look like the surface of a tumultuous sea… The brightness and thickness of the clouds can vary significantly, creating impressive visual effects.” These clouds sometimes appear before a storm but can also dissipate without any storm occurring.
Another person shared a photo they took of the sky that looks like the ocean. (Photo: Erika P./ Twitter).
Encouraged by many, Theresa submitted her photo to the Minnesota State Fair to compete, hoping to win an award for nature photography.
