A vast tessellation of white clouds stretches across the deep blue sky above the rugged mountains of Glacier Bay, creating a textured, almost patterned effect that draws the eye across the landscape. These clouds are altocumulus stratiformis, mid-level clouds typically forming between 6,500 and 20,000 feet, and they appear in response to atmospheric waves or disturbances at that altitude, where layers of moist air are lifted and cooled. The formation of these clouds often signals a change in weather, such as an approaching front or increased atmospheric instability, and their presence can indicate that winds aloft are moving steadily, creating the gentle undulations seen in the cloud deck. The combination of crisp mountain peaks, deep blue sky, and the structured, shifting cloud patterns gives the scene a dynamic, ever-changing quality, reminding observers of the complex interplay between topography, air movement, and moisture in shaping the coastal Alaskan skies. Photographer: Sean Neilson