"Understanding Cloud Cover: Deciphering Atmospheric Holes"

Cavum clouds, also known as hole-punch clouds, are caused by airplanes moving through supercooled altocumulus clouds, leading to the formation of ice crystals and the creation of distinctive voids in the cloud layer. Studies led by University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) scientists in 2010 and 2011 provided a comprehensive explanation for these phenomena, dispelling otherworldly theories. Factors such as aircraft type, angle of passage through the clouds, cloud thickness, air temperature, and wind shear can affect the size and duration of these unique cloud formations.