CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS AT THE END





Here is something not many of us get to see, unless



you live near there - Mt. St. Helen s at sunrise.



Mt. St .. Helens continues to spew ash, while it is



forming a lava dome in the crater and still having



minor tremors.



Here in this sunrise shot, she appears to be blowing



smoke rings (and anything so benign is welcomed, given



recent history).



What forms the "smoke rings" is the air flowing over



the mountain getting pushed up higher as it goes up



and over the top. The moisture content and initial



temperature are just right so that the moisture



condenses from a vapor to small particles at the



higher altitude. When the moving air moves past the



peak and comes down again, the particles evaporate



back to an invisible vapor.



The two "pancakes" describe that there are two layers



of air for which this is happening, thus making this



awesome picture possible.