Time-lapse photography of clouds and other phenomena in the sky

Prague in near-infrared.  Experimental timelapse series - the first half captured in standard visible light, while the second part is captured in near-IR (using the Kenko Infrared R72 filter). The main difference between these is in the way how vegetation is displayed. As the spectral reflectivity increases significantly at about 0.7 microns (peaking between 0.7 to 0.8 microns), the vegetation appears in near-IR much brighter (almost white) as compared to the visible range. Other main difference is in the visibility of distant clouds. Since the atmosphere is much better transparent to the longer wavelengths, the remote clouds appear much better in the near-IR than in the visible range. For comparison, here are two still images - in the visible and in the near-IR range. Captured from Petřín hill, from a viewpoint close to the Strahov Monastery, Prague.

While "timelapsing" the above IR sequence, a fire in the Old Town of Prague began to develop. The smoke plume of this fire is captured here, using my older GX100 and an experimental external timer, set to 2 second interval. Taken from the same place as above.

Shallow convective clouds in visible and near-IR spectral bands. Two series, captured simultaneously with my two Ricoh GX100 cameras. The first serie is captured in the regular visible range, while the second one in near infrared (NIR) spectral band, using the IR72 filter (and standard, non-modified camera). The main diference between these is much better visibility of distant clouds (low above the horizon) in NIR, enabled by higher transparency of the haze and smog in the NIR wavelengths. Captured from the old radar tower at Observatory Libus, Prague, Czech Republic, northward view.

Evolution of a smaller convective storm south of Prague.  Two timelapse series, showing an onset and evolution of a cumulonimbus cloud above central Bohemia, south of Prague. The upper sequence shows the storm in natural visible light (at  2.5 sec interval and zoom set to 35 mm), while the bottom sequence, taken with my second camera shows the same storm as captured in near infrared (at 5 sec interval and zoom at 28 mm). Captured from Kačerov, Prague, Czech Republic, southward view.

See also the evolution of this storm as captured by Meteosat-8 (MSG-1) satellite at 5-minute steps (Rapid Scan Service), shown in the so-called "sandwich" RGB product (combining HRV and IR10.8 bands, product info here). Red dot in the loop indicates the location and time range of the two timelapse series above.

Smaller Cb forming on a storm outflow boundary, generated by storms south-east of Prague. The outflow boundary can be nicely seen in this MSG image, while the evolution of storms which generated the outflow and the westward propagation of the outflow boundary can be followed in this MSG loop (both in the IR10.8 sandwich product, info here). While the radar loop in this case doesn't reveal the outflow boundary itself, it shows nicely the storm cell captured in the timelpase movie. Red dot in the MSG loop and the arrow in the radar loop indicate the location, time and direction of the timelapse movie. The timelapse sequence shows fascinating details of the storm anvil formation, namely the downward motions at its bottom side. The lower clouds are a manifestation of the older outflow boundary on which this cell formed, at the end of the sequence already weakening and dissipating. MSG and radar images ©2011 CHMI and EUMETSAT. Captured from Kačerov, Prague, Czech Republic, east to southeast view (zoom at 35 mm, external timer).

Post-frontal morning.  The beginning of this sequence shows mid-level wave clouds, followed by onset of shallow convection and  gradual increase of its amount. Captured from Kačerov, Prague, Czech Republic, northward view.

Lightning show above Prague. This timelapse movie shows an approach and passage of one of the storm cells belonging to a mesoscale convective system (MCS), which formed above the Central Europe on that night. As much of the lightning of this MCS was cloud-to-ground (CG), most of the flashes were nicely observable. Some of the flashes illuminated briefly the structures of the storm base, and namely the cold outflow propagating from south-west (in these images from right to left). See also some of the still images from this timelapse sequence: [22:49], [22:55], [22:57], [22:58] and [23:04]. Captured from Kačerov, Prague, Czech Republic, southward view.

The radar loop from 22:00-23:40 UTC (with the cross indicating time and location of the timelapse sequence) shows a rather chaotic structure of this MCS, while the MSG1 satellite loop from 18:00-09:00 UTC shows the large horizontal extent of its cloud-top shield. MSG and radar imagery: © 2011 CHMI and EUMETSAT.

Bow-echo passage above Prague. A short timelapse movie showing a shelf cloud (gust front) on the leading edge of a bow echo, above south parts of Prague. Despite the very high electric activity of this mesoscale convective system (MCS), most of the flashes were intra-cloud, thus not as nicely visible as for the previous (09 July 2011) case. Captured from Kačerov, Prague, Czech Republic, south-west view.

See also the corresponding radar images from 18:55 and 19:00 UTC (CZRAD PPI 0.9°, small cross indicating the location from which the timelapse sequence has been captured), radar loop for 16:00-21:00 UTC showing  the evolution and  passage of this MCS and namely its bow-echos above the Czech Republic, and a short radar loop from 18:40-19:15 UTC with the cross indicating time and location of the timelapse sequence. The appearance of this MCS "from above" can be seen in the MSG1 18:35 UTC satellite image (sandwich HRV & IR10.8-BT product, description here), and its evolution in the 14:00-19:00 UTC MSG1 loop (the same image product, MOV, 13MB). MSG and radar imagery: © 2011 CHMI and EUMETSAT.

Weak gust front on early morning storm outflow. See also the corresponding radar and satellite images, with indication of the place from which the sequence was captured (Prague Libuš, westward view).  MSG and radar imagery: © 2011 CHMI and EUMETSAT.

Wave cloud above mountain range east of the Hochtor Pass, at the end of Seidlwinkltal. Captured from a viewpoint above Fuscher Lacke on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, Hohe Tauern National Park, Alps, Austria.

Sunrise above the Palma de Mallorca port and cathedral.  Besides the sunrise itself and crepuscular rays shortly before it, also nice wave clouds (and smoke from ship engines at the other side of the port). Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.

Kelvin-Helmholtz waves at sunrise. See also the still image showing these waves at their most distinct stage. Captured from Cala d'Or, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.