2008 - 02 - 09 17:50 - 18:18 UTC (0h 28m)

Ricoh GX100 , interval 5 seconds , speed 150x 20080209_1750-1818utc_LaCaleta.mpg (10.7 MB, 1024x672, MPEG1)

20080209_1750-1818utc_LaCaleta.mov (12.4 MB, 1024x672, H.264 / QuickTime) First of the time-lapse series from our vacation at Tenerife, Canary Islands. It shows typical convective clouds, forming at the slopes of the coastal hills surrounding the island. In the foreground is La Caleta, small fisherman village, while in the distance is Playa de las Americas, an extensive tourist agglomeration.

2008 - 02 - 09 18:32 - 18:50 UTC (0h18m)

Ricoh GX100 , interval 5 seconds , speed 150x 20080209_1832-1850utc_Gomera.mpg (6.8 MB, 1024x672, MPEG1)

20080209_1832-1850utc_Gomera.mov (7.7 MB, 1024x672, H.264 / QuickTime) Sunset hidden behind shower clouds, next to Gomera Island. Captured from cliffs near La Caleta village, Tenerife, Canary Islands.

2008 - 02 - 10 13:44 - 15:10 UTC (1h 26m)

Ricoh GX100 , interval 5 seconds , speed 150x 20080210_1344-1510utc_Teide.mpg (16.2 MB, 1024x672, MPEG1)

20080210_1344-1510utc_Teide.mov (17.0 MB, 1024x672, H.264 / QuickTime) Clouds forming in the lee of Pico del Teide (3718 m), Tenerife. While in the lowest 3 km layer the winds were very weak on that day (almost calm), higher above this level the winds were much stronger, blowing from the northwest (from the left in these images). This resulted in wake rotor motion to right of the Teide summit, manifested by rolling clouds there...

2008 - 02 - 14 15:50 - 16:40 UTC (0h 50m)

Ricoh GX100 , interval 5 seconds , speed 150x 20080214_1550-1640utc_MontanaBlanca.mpg (10.0 MB, 1024x672, MPEG1)

20080214_1550-1640utc_MontanaBlanca.mov (9.9 MB, 1024x672, H.264 / QuickTime) Low clouds above the southeastern coast of Tenerife, as viewed from the summit of Montaña Blanca (2750 m). Similar situations are quite typical for the island - while the slopes of the coastal mountains or the entire coast are covered by low clouds, the highland plateau surrounded by Circo Cañadas Mts. (2300 - 2700 m) enjoys clear skies. If any clouds manage to overflow this ridge, they usually quickly dissolve, as in this case. See also the MODIS/Terra image taken at 11:40 UTC (where the red dot indicates the location from where the sequence was taken, and the arrow its direction), and also a full-day loop from Meteosat 9 satellite.

2008 - 02 - 18 15:57 - 16:45 UTC (0h 48m)

Ricoh GX100 , interval 5 seconds , speed 150x 20080218_1557-1645utc_Guajara.mpg (9.5 MB, 1024x672, MPEG1)

20080218_1557-1645utc_Guajara.mov (10.3 MB, 1024x672, H.264 / QuickTime) "River of clouds" above the southeastern coast of Tenerife, captured from Degollada de Guajara Pass (2375 m), under Guajara Mt. (2717 m). Thin dark layers in the distance are clouds of Saharan dust, making their way across the Atlantic Ocean. This dust passed above Tenerife on the next day (see the following case). See also the MODIS/Aqua 14:28 UTC image and the Meteosat 9 loop.

2008 - 02 - 19 11:58 - 12:35 UTC (0h 37m)

Ricoh GX100 , interval 5 seconds , speed 150x 20080219_1158-1235utc_Teide.mpg (7.9 MB, 1024x672, MPEG1)

20080219_1158-1235utc_Teide.mov (12.5 MB, 1024x672, H.264 / QuickTime) Pico del Teide, low clouds above Orotava Valley and the northwest coast of Tenerife, as viewed from Mirador les Cumbres (~ 1900 m). Since it was almost calm at the lowest 2 km, the clouds do not flow anywhere, but only "bubble" and "splash" around. Above the 2 km level were very strong winds from the west, which also brought some Saharan dust during this sequence. The dust layer seems to be vertically very thin, drifting between about the 2 to 3.5 km levels. See also the MODIS/Terra 11:55 UTC image (in this case taken exactly with the beginning of the Ricoh sequence), and the Meteosat 9 loop (showing nicely the thin dust clouds drifting eastward).