In mountain areas, powerful forces are unleashed in the atmosphere on a windy day. For example, most keen hillwalkers and pilots are familiar with the gusts and lulls that occur, which are a symptom of the turbulence generated as the air flows over hills and ridges. Higher up, something more remarkable occurs in the right conditions: the formation of mountain waves. These are largely invisible, but sometimes clouds form in the rising air around the crest of each wave. Known as lenticular clouds, they are often elongated and smooth-faced like a lens, and there may be a series heading off Continue Reading
The Mersey Estuary: a bird’s eye view
One of the best ways to appreciate the scale of an estuary is from on high, and around the Mersey Estuary there are several places to get a bird’s eye view. The changing weather and tides add to the spectacle, with no two visits giving the same experience. In Liverpool, the highest building is West Tower which includes office accommodation and luxury apartments, Near the top, the superb Panoramic 34 restaurant is one of the highest restaurants in the UK. On a clear day the views extend across Liverpool and the Wirral and even to north Wales. Along with fine dining and cocktails, afternoon Continue Reading
