There are waves everywhere, from ocean waves to sound waves. But some of the biggest waves on the planet aren’t in the ocean. This particular cloud formation is so big it has its own name.
Morning Glory is a phenomenon not seen many places. Usually formed over peninsulas, Morning Glory clouds occurs when winds moving towards each other meet, forcing air upwards. As the air cools, a massive rolling cloud forms. The one in the video above sits at around 2000 feet, and stretches for nearly 700 miles. Often called the “World’s Biggest Wave,” the Morning Glory cloud has a single crest, with a strong vertical air-movement in front that pushes air up through the cloud, giving it the rolling appearance. The air in the middle and back of the cloud sinks and becomes turbulent.
Nearly six years ago, Jon Durand surfed the world’s biggest wave on a hang-glider. Renowned for their unpredictable turbulence and wildly swinging drafts, clouds like these are a bit of a pinnacle for hang gliders. For nearly 60 miles, Durand flew his craft over Australia’s Gulf of Carpentaria, using the Morning Glory’s air pockets to effectively surf in the clouds. “It was the best moment of my life,” he told Red Bull. “But it could have been the scariest as well.”
