Morning Glory Cloud Documentary - The Secrets of a Strange Cloud
Rob Thompson's documentary "Secrets of a Strange Cloud" was first broadcast by SBS Television Australia in 2015. Music is by Victor Spiegel. Rob, together with Russell White were the first to ride a Morning Glory Cloud in a 2 seat motor glider in 1989.
The Morning Glory Cloud in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland, Australia is an amazing atmospheric phenomenon. It is a shock wave which can be over a thousand kilometres long. Other meteorological terms for this type of formation is a shelf cloud, roll cloud or soliton. They can happen unpredictably in other places in the world but the Gulf of Carpentaria is the only location place where they happen with some degree of regularity around September and October. This documentary was filmed in and around Burketown which is the best place to see the Morning Glory Cloud. The cloud also goes through Karumba and Normanton (often before dawn), Mornington Island, Sweers Island and if it is a strong one it will reach as far as Borroloola.
Professor Thomas Peacock from MIT in Boston and Dr. Jorg Hacker from Airborne Research Australia are researching the causes of this phenomenon and we also meet the glider pilots who ride the largest wave in the world.
The music is by Victor Spiegel. See / victor-spiegel
Rob Thompson filmed a documentary on the Morning Glory Cloud in 1996 which aired on National Geographic Television Worldwide. It is at • Original 1996 Morning Glory Cloud Documentary