Kenya and Tanzania -- Oct 2012 -- Part II of III

Cropped version of previous photo.

In these extended plains, which went from horizon to horizon, I noitced something that turned out to be difficult to capture in a photograph (although I tried at several places -- this may be the best one, although none of them turned out to show the concept as well as it seemed "on the spot").

What I noticed was that the bottom surface of these clouds kept seeming to be closer and closer to the horizon, the farther from the observer the clouds were. I assmume those bottom cloud surfaces were all at the same altitude (and the ground was clearly level -- or almost so). If I looked at those lower cloud surfaces long enough, I could "see" (or, at least, visualize -- or convince myself I was "seeing") that the lower surfaces of the clouds were curved. That is, the lower surfaces of the clouds seemed to form a curved "bowl" over the plain. Then, if I envisioned that all of the clouds were the same distance above the surface of the earth (which was "level" -- in the sense that there were no visible hills or ridges), then the earth's surface must also be curved.

I don't recall seeing this (or noticing this) at any other place (although I have probably seen it before, but never noticed it). It MIGHT be "easier" to see in Kenya and Tanzania because of the extensive plains AND the relatively moist air, which perhaps makes clouds more frequent that in the US (where the extensive plains may tend to have fewer clouds because they are a dryer climate).

I'm still unsure how much of this I was really SEEING rather than having my mind "construct" the curved sky because I knew it had to be there (in some way). The fact that it shows up so poorly in the photos may be providing a clue it was an effect that perhaps existed in my head moreso than in reality.