Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Beautiful Inversion

At the moment in Kelowna we are experiencing what meteorologists call an inversion.

What is an inversion you ask?  Well let me put my meterologist hat on and explain.  Normally, as you rise in altitude, the temperature decreases due to the changes in air pressure. A Weather inversion is when instead of getting cooler at higher temperatures, it is actually warmer up higher.  

So for us that means two things.  1.  In Kelowna we have been experiencing foggy conditions with cooler temperatures and 2. (and this is the best part) whilst Kelowna looks grey and has limited visibility Big White is sunny, warm (ish - it's all relative people!!!) and a joy to behold.  

For the past two weekends we have experienced near perfect conditions on the mountain.  At about the half way point on the road to Big White  we ascend through the clouds and there we are met by unlimited visibility, a sun whose warmth we can actually feel, and snow that glistens as if a giant bucket of silver glitter has been dumped on its surface.

 It truly is BEAUTIFUL.













The effect of the sun shining through moisture which is evaporating and freezing as it continues to rise.
 This then creates a swirling mass of glitter (How beautiful!!!)

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

How amazing- cant wait to be there to experience it for ourselves. Only 10 months to go ....... !!
Love you all - Brad, Lauren, Zac and Harry XXXX

Caren said...

Incredible pictures Nicky! Happy to see how you guys have settled right into Kelowna!

Nancy said...

I just love the sunshine on snow. Spectacular pictures you took!

The A.Batemans said...

What are you trying to do?....torture us????. You guys keep on having fun, but don't wear it out! leave some for us.

Pete said...

Your words are just as pretty as the pictures!

Anonymous said...

Niki, your photography is truly wonderful.....and Caleb snowboarding !!
nsprch

Debbie Wilde said...

Fantastic photos,how lovely and clear is it.What a wonderful part of the world you all are in.From Debbie and Gerry.xx