The almost round cloud – lenticular – appeared to hold a strange shape for about an hour on the morning of January 19 in the sky over the city of Bursa, northwest Turkey, the Guardian reported on January 21.
Some social media users have recorded this rare phenomenon with their phones. The strange cloud appeared at sunrise and attracted great attention because of its flying saucer-like shape with a large hole in the middle.
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A lenticular cloud, shaped like a UFO, appeared on the morning of January 19 over the city of Bursa, northwest Turkey. Photo: @ByronJWalker |
Videos and photos of the strange cloud quickly spread around the world and received explosive attention. Hundreds of social media users say the cloud looks like a UFO.
Many major newspapers and news agencies around the world such as Guardian, BBC, CNN … all published this incredible cloud video with the title “Strange UFO-like cloud hovering in the sky of Turkey”.
However, Turkey’s state meteorological agency explains that the rare phenomenon is simply a “lenticular cloud”.
According to the BBC, lenticular clouds are known for their curved, saucer-like shapes. They are usually found at altitudes of 2,000-5,000 m.
Lenticular clouds usually form where moist air flows over mountains. The moving airflow forms a series of large-scale standing waves in the direction of the wind.
If the temperature at the top of the wave drops to the dew point, the moisture in the air condenses to form a lenticular cloud. They usually form in winter, but can still be seen at other times of the year.
This type of cloud can also signal rain the next day or a wetter atmosphere before an upcoming storm.
In the case of Bursa, a cold front is approaching western Turkey on January 19. Bursa is located at the foot of a mountain range. This partly explains the UFO-like cloud phenomenon seen.