Causes of cloud hole formation

Cloud holes can appear between the middle clouds due to the turbulence of the aircraft moving through.

A cloud hole is a large circular space that can appear between the middle clouds in the sky. Many people associate this phenomenon with the appearance of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) or supernatural forces created, according to Earth Sky.

Aircraft can promote the process of forming cloud holes in the sky.(Photo by Andrew Heymsfield).

Medium clouds (Altocumulus ) are white or gray clouds belonging to a class characterized by cloudy blocks that form a layer or lines at an altitude of about 2,400-6,100m.

The middle cloud layer contains small droplets of water at supercooled temperatures of -15 degrees Celsius, but they do not freeze due to lack of ice seeds. If ice crystals can form in a part of the cloud, they will cause a chain effect that causes the surrounding droplets to freeze and fall. This process creates a circular hole in the cloud.

According to Andrew Heymsfield, weather specialist at the US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), aircraft are capable of disturbing cloud layers as well as promoting the initial ice crystal formation to create cloud holes. .

"Under certain conditions, planes change clouds and increase precipitation (rain, snow, .) nearby, by adding condensate condensation nuclei on the road. It flew over, " said Heymsfield.