Witnessing the sight of “flying saucer” clouds enveloping a volcano in the Philippines has left many people astonished.
A clip shows a white lens-shaped cloud covering the summit of Mount Apo, an inactive volcano located in Davao del Sur, Philippines.
Peter Lebo, a witness to the phenomenon, stated: “I was very surprised because this rarely happens here, especially in the early morning.”
Lenticular clouds are stationary clouds that form at the altitude of the troposphere. The conditions for their formation include wind, moist air, and a mountain. This rare natural phenomenon occurs when a stable flow of warm, moist air moves over a high mountain.
As the air rises to the mountain’s summit, it cools and may reach its dew point, causing moisture to condense and form clouds. Additionally, the mountain acts as an obstacle that disrupts the airflow and creates a swirling motion. The result is the formation of lenticular clouds. Under conditions of continuous and stable airflow, the clouds appear to remain still and rotate in place.
Mount Apo stands at 2,954 meters above sea level and is the highest mountain in the Philippines. It is also the 24th highest peak on Earth.
