Mammatus Clouds

These images were taken over London on the 24th July 2009  @ 16:14

Mammatus are most often associated with the anvil cloud that extends from a cumulonimbus, but may also be found underaltocumulus, altostratus, stratocumulus, and cirrus clouds, as well as volcanic ash clouds.^{[citation needed]} In the United States, sky gazers may be most familiar with the very distinct and more common cumulonimbus mammatus. When occurring in cumulonimbus, mammatus are often indicative of a particularly strong storm or maybe even a tornadic storm. These tend to form more often during warm months and over the midwest and eastern portions of the United States, and more infrequently over the west and southwest. Due to the intensely sheared environment in which mammatus form, aviators are strongly cautioned to avoid cumulonimbus with mammatus.

Mammatus may appear as smooth, ragged or lumpy lobes and may be opaque or semitransparent. Because mammatus occur as a grouping of lobes, the way they clump together can vary from an isolated cluster to a field of mamma that spread over hundreds of kilometers to being organized along a line, and may be composed of unequal or similarly-sized lobes. The individual mammatus lobe average diameters of 1–3 km and lengths on average of 0.5 km. A lobe can last an average of 10 minutes, but a whole cluster of mamma can range from 15 minutes to a few hours. They usually are composed of ice, but also can be a mixture of ice and liquid water or be composed of almost entirely liquid water.

Taken through the windscreen of my car on an iphone

Mammatus (also known as mammatocumulus, meaning “bumpy clouds”^{[citation needed]}) is a meteorological term applied to a cellular pattern of pouches hanging underneath the base of a cloud. The name “mammatus” is derived from the Latin mamma (udder), due to the clouds’ characteristic shape.

Mammatus Clouds

Mammatus Clouds like a scifi movie

No rain apart from a few drops

Over looking part of the capital the island of Dominica

The photos here were taken back in 2001 I had a small compact 35mm camera times have changed. Roseau (Kwéyòl: Wozeau) is the capital and largest city of Dominica. Its population is 14,847 (2001 census),^[1] It is a small and compact urban settlement, located within the Saint George parish and surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, theRoseau River and Morne Bruce. Built on the site of the ancient Kalinago Indianvillage of Sairi, it is the oldest and most important urban settlement on the island. It is located on the west (leeward) coast of Dominica, and is a combination of modern and colonial (French Style) architecture. (wikipedia)

The water runs white, grey because of volcanic activity.

Dominica’s Boiling Lake is situated in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park -Dominica’s World Heritage site. It is a flooded fumarole 6.5 miles (10.5 km) east of  Roseau, Dominica. It is filled with bubbling greyish-blue water that is usually enveloped in a cloud of vapour. The lake is approximately 200 ft (60 m) across. The first recorded sighting of the lake was in 1870 by Mr. Watt and Dr. Nicholls, two Englishmen working in Dominica at that time. In 1875, Mr. H. Prestoe, a government botanist, and Dr. Nicholls were commissioned to investigate this natural phenomenon. They measured the water temperature and found it to range from 180 to 197 degrees Fahrenheit (82 to 91.5 degrees Celsius) along the edges, but could not measure the temperature at the centre where the lake is actively boiling. They recorded the depth to be greater than 195 ft (59 m). Periodically, there have been fluctuations in the level and activity of the lake. It was all but empty in June 2006, however as of January 2009 the lake is full and boiling vigorously. There is no road leading directly to the lake. It is approximately a 13 kilometer hike to the lake from the nearest road, passing sulfur springs, over mountains and through gorges along the way. On July 6, 2007, Adventure film maker George Kourounis became the first person to ever cross the boiling lake from above, suspended by ropes over the most violently boiling section. This event was filmed for the TV series Angry Planet. Dominica’s Boiling Lake is the second largest hot spring in the world. The largest is Frying Pan Lake, located in Waimangu Valley near Rotorua, New Zealand. (wikipedia)

Mist and rain covers the hill and peaks

Driving winds and rain made the going tough.

The constant rain falls caused these waterfall to spring up everywhere!

Taking a dip in this hot spring, the water grey with sulphur.

We had to traverse numerous hills and valleys.

Decent into the Valley of Desolation

Bad weather spoiled the view, behind and below is the boiling lake.

The Capital of Dominica

This photo I took at a popular tourist cave in the Alta Gracia region, it’s the entrance which decends about 30 metres to an underground pool of water that is another 8 metres deep and extends underground for 200 metres all filled with water. I had a chance to swim in there and will post more photos of this at a later date. What is fascinating about this cave is the fact that on first entering and descending to the water level, it is not easy to see that in fact one is peering through crystal clear pure water!  The rock formation easily visible below!  This particular cave would not have been inhabited.

There are numerous extraordinary caves on the island of  Hispañola or the Dominican Republic many of which contain relics and artwork of the Taínos culture. How did the Taínos people arrive on in the islands?  Two schools of thought have emerged regarding the origin of the indigenous people of the Caribbean. One group contends that the ancestors of the Taínos came from the center of the Amazon Basin, subsequently moving to the Orinoco valley. From there they reached the West Indies by way of what is now Guyana and Venezuela into Trinidad, proceeding along the Lesser Antilles all the way to Cuba and the Bahamian archipelago. Evidence that supports this theory includes the tracing of the ancestral cultures of these people to the Orinoco Valley and their languages to the Amazon Basin.

The alternate theory, known as the circum-Caribbean theory, contends that the ancestors of the Taínos diffused from the Colombian Andes. Julian H. Steward, the theory’s originator, suggested a radiation from the Andes to the West Indies and a parallel radiation into Central America and into the Guianas, Venezuela and the Amazon Basin.

Swimming in 8 metres of water

This colourful bird is a macaw not a parrot,  as of 2008 also not an endangered bird. I took this shot on the tropical caribbean island of Dominica.

This Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) is a large, colorful Macaw. Some consider the Scarlet to be among the most beautiful birds in the world.

It is native to humid evergreen forests in the American tropics. Range extends from extreme south – eastern Mexico to Amazoniain Peru and Brazil, in lowlands up to 500 m (1,640 ft) (at least formerly) up to 1,000 m (3,281 ft). It has been widely extirpated by habitat destruction and capture for the pet trade. Formerly it ranged north to southern Tamaulipas. It can still be found on the island of Coiba. It is also the Honduran national bird. The Scarlet Macaw can live up to 75 years, although, a more typical lifespan is 30 to 50 years. (wikipidia) I forgot to mention  they can make a hell of a lot of noise too!

I met this character on a trip to Lago Enriquollo  frightened the life of of me,  thoughts sprung to mind of little Raptors. My fears were unfounded.

This creature is one of two rock iguana species on the large island of Hispaniola, the Ricord’s iguana is restricted to a very limited range in the southwest of the Dominican Republic (DR).  The population is divided into two isolated ranges, including two protected areas, Isla Cabritos in Lago Enriquollo and Parque Nacional Jaragua. The range of this iguana has contracted significantly in recent times, and has not fared well in the face of feral predators and habitat degradation including conversion of their habitat for agriculture and pasture.  They inhabit dry scrubland with sandy and earthen soils in which they excavate burrows for retreats.  Adults are primarily terrestrial, often living in high densities, whereas juveniles tend to occupy arboreal retreats.  The extent and impact of hunting and rapping of iguanas by local people is another threat that needs further investigation.    What is clear is that the Ricord’s iguana has disappeared from vast tracks of its former range that may signify a more specialized lifestyle and inability to adapt to disturbed areas.  The rate of decline is particularly disturbing.  As so little is actually know about Ricord’s iguanas in the wild, current conservation measures include habitat assessments and population surveys to gain a clearer understanding of the nature of the various threats and how to mitigate them.  Educational efforts aimed at local schoolteachers and developing a curriculum using the Ricord’s iguana as the focus are planned. Expansion of the protected areas within the iguana’s range has been recommended. It was a pleasure to encounter these iguanas in their natural habitats,  at the time of taken some photos there I was severely  bitten by mosquitos. I guess I should view it as a kind of welcome.

Taken from the Hyatt hotel Sabah, didn’t have the best view but no problem. Below is a 24hr street market which is really lively at night, you can buy some really nice things there. Watches, jewelry, clothes amazing prices. The fact that it was raining so much did not put me of venturing out to this place at night which is totally safe. Trying some of the local delicacies and dodging the rain bursts became almost second nature. Unfortunately because of this I didn’t go out with my camera hmm I’ll need to make amends for next time  :-)     On average Sabah receives 2,908.7mm  (give or take .7mm) of rainfall annually in most part of the state. The North-East Monsoon blows approximately from November to April bringing heavy rain to the east coast. From statistics, Sabah encounters rain half the number of days in a year. Most of the rain are of tropical rainstorms due to extremely high evaporation rate. Rainfall can measure as much as 212mm in one day. I guess we were lucky not to have attempted to climb Mount Kinubalu. Talk about being unprepared   Just a little tip it ’s really a great idea to do lots of research before doing any kinds of tropical treks. Particularly a simple thing like bringing the right clothing, flip flops don’t always work!

Easy to imagine that this majestic creature is roaming some African nature reserve, not your fault but you’d be wrong.  This giraffe resides in Port Lympne Zoo in Kent England. It is great being able to see these beautiful animals in the south of England. I really hope the cold doesn’t affect them because it can get really cold, in any case I wonder if  i’ll get into trouble for taking the photo of this giraffe and posting it here. I heard that a photographer should have permission from a zoo to either take photos or display them, hmm too late I’ve done it now

Howletts & Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks were set up by the late John Aspinall with the aim of protecting and breeding rare and endangered species and returning to safe areas in their native homeland. The Aspinall Foundation is the charity which manages Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks, it is funded solely from charitable donations. World leaders in conservation – The Aspinall Foundation working in conjunction with the parks have so far returned to the wild Przewalski’s horses, black rhino, Sumatran rhino, Cape buffalo, ocelots, pythons and gorillas.

Stately, welcoming, Victorian-style and luxuriously equipped, the Gran Bahía Príncipe Samaná hotel is set on the beach with unique views of the sea and “Cayo Levantado” island. I stayed at this hotel and was very happy with the service and facilities. Some simply breath taking views. My over all impression of the Samana Peninsula was not only that it is a beautiful and place tranquil place but it also has a most interesting history.  It is well worth a visit. I have an opposite view of this photo which I will post in due course.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog, please feel free to comment on the images or articles you see. If you have any questions, you are welcome to ask me. Enjoy!