While they haven't been formally recognized yet by the World Meteorological Organized (WMO), undulatus asperatus clouds are taking the world by storm. This particular time-lapse of undulatus asperatus clouds was created by animating still frames of a video taken by storm chaser Alex Schueth, who recorded the clouds over Lincoln, Nebraska, on July 7, 2014.

Undulatus asperatus, which means "agitated waves," was originally submitted to the WMO in 2009 by the Cloud Appreciation Society. The Cloud Appreciation Society petitioned the WMO, asking for a new classification for the cloud since "photographs of this cloud formation had been sent in by Society members over the years, and we'd never known quite how to classify them since we felt that they didn't easily fit into the existing cloud terms."

The WMO considered the request and has yet to confirm the official classification of undulatus asperatus or determine whether the item should enter the International Cloud Atlas.

Regardless of official cloud status or not, undulatus asperatus sitings are strikingly visual reminders that the atmosphere is an ocean of gas, complete with cloud waves crashing high above. They occur when enough atmospheric instability, or rising air, is available to create widespread cloud cover, as well as wind shear and turbulence, which creates the wavy, rough sea-like visual effect