This image of a lightning storm over Texas, US, by Craig Bill, was the overall winner (in the Open Nature category) of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

This vibrantly coloured photo of an old jetty at Shorncliffe, Queensland by David Anderson, was a finalist in the Amateur Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

Mark Gray’s photo of Hardy Reef, on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, was 5th place in the Open Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

A hauntingly still photo of Lake Wanaka in New Zealand, by Victorian Neville Jones, was a finalist in the Amateur Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

Dylan Fox took this photo of Cottesloe Beach, Western Australia, which won 7th place in the Amateur Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

This night-time cityscape of Melbourne, taken by Aaron Lee, was a finalist in the Amateur Built Environment category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

David Sargeant’s photo of Paradise Harbour in Antarctica was a finalist in the Amateur Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

An shelf cloud of an ominous storm looms over Noosa in the photo by Ben Messina, which was a finalist in the Open Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

Australian Geographic photographer Andrew Gregory was a finalist in the Open Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards, for this image of Narrabeen, New south Wales.

This sunrise shot of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland by Andrew McGaughey was a finalist in the Open Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

This photo of the Pinnacles in Nambung NP by Mieke Boynton was a finalist in the Amateur Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

Timothy Poulton’s photo of Morwell, Victoria was a finalist in the Amateur Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

A dark storm over the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, photographed by Milon Lekovic was a finalist in the Amateur Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

A rainbow over the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, photographed by Ben Goode, was a finalist in the Open Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

Australian Geographic photographer Andrew Gregory’s image of Terania Creek in NSW was a finalist in the Open Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

A single lightning strike from a storm over Coolum Beach in Queensland, by Chantal Henderson, was a finalist in the Open Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

This shelf cloud-led storm over Sydney, photographed by Robert Woodward, was a finalist in the Open Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

This sunset shot of Kata Tjuta in the Northern Territory, by Mark Gray, was a finalist in the Open Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

Daniel Simms from the ACT took this photograph of Lake Tekapo, New Zealand, which was a finalist in the Amateur Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

Misty clouds cover rock peaks on Phillip Island, Victoria, in this photo by Dylan Toh, which was a finalist in the Amateur Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

An old tree in Midginbil, in northen New South Wales, by Mark David was a finalist in the Amateur Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

Timothy Poulton’s photo of Coalcliff, NSW, was a finalist in the Amateur Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

This photo of Little Narrabeen beach, NSW, by Marc Lynch, was a finalist in the Amateur Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

Leo Kennedy’s photo of Box Beach in Tomaree NP, NSW, was a finalist in the Amateur Nature category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

This unusal shot of Melbourne’s bulidings peaking above the clouds, by Lucas Darcy, was a finalist in the Built Environment category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

This cityscape photo of Darling Harbour in Sydney, photographed by Timothy Poutlon, was a finalist in the Amateur Built Environment category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

Mieke Boynton took this photograph of Perth, WA, which was a finalist in the Amateur Built Environment category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

This photo of boats on the beach at Watson’s Bay, Sydney, NSW, by Tommy Trinh, was a finalist in the Amateur Built Environment category of the 2012 Epson International Pano Awards.

Shelf clouds

Appearance: Similar to that of a shelf or spade, these clouds are attached to a bigger cloud system above it and are often associated with storm cells.

Occurrence: Shelf clouds commonly form over land at the edge of a squall or thunderstorm and are the result of a gusty front. As the rain-cooled air rapidly sinks then spreads, the wind forces warmer, moist air close to the ground, upwards.

Conditions: Shelf clouds commonly formed at low levels ahead of incoming cumulonimbus (storm) clouds when sinking cool air meets a bank of warm moist air. Because the cool air is denser, the warm air is forced upwards. It is the moisture in this rising air which forms the shelf.

Location: Conditions for thunderstorms are particularly good in north Western Australia and central Queensland, typically during the monsoon (December-March). The United States east of the Rocky Mountains is also particularly good in the spring and summer months for storm cells. This is a result of moisture and increased rising warm air which results in instability. Thunderstorms do not generally occur over deserts because even though they are hot enough, there is too little water.

Mammatus clouds

Appearance: Mammatus clouds are soft, pouchy formations which can resemble wool, bubble wrap or cow’s udders

Occurrence: These clouds are found in mid-latitude and tropical climates including parts of Australia as a result of higher temperatures, increased moisture and strong atmospheric instability.

Conditions: In air that contains ice particles or water drops, evaporation cools the inside of the cloud creating negative buoyancy. Along with the weight of the particles, this causes it to puff down instead of up.

Location: Mammatus have been seen in many places, especially tornado-prone ones like the Midwestern United States. They are frequently found on the bottom of thunderstorm anvils and indicate large water droplets and heavy rain. A common misconception is they mean a tornado is coming.

Kelvin-Helmholtz wave clouds

Appearance: Resembles picture book waves crashing over each other.

Occurrence: Rarely observed due to fast dissipation, Kelvin-Helmholtz waves can form over the top of lenticular clouds or lee wave clouds. This means they are commonly observed in areas with similar topography to lenticular clouds.

Conditions: The wave formation is created by two layers of moisture or air moving past each other at different speeds. This creates a shearing effect. Because one layer is moving faster, it causes the tops of the waves to move horizontally.

Location: Kelvin-Helmholtz waves are commonly found over mountainous regions. The topography provides or enhances the shear layers. One of the places you’re most likely to see them is on the front ranges of Colorado in the United States.

Pileus clouds

Appearance: Resembles the top of a mushroom or a smooth cap.

Occurrence: Occasional. Found above rapidly growing cumulus or cumulonimbus clouds as a result of warm updrafts formed during a thunderstorm.

Conditions: Caused by rapid, relatively strong, upward movements of warm moist air, which acts as a barrier. Air approaching the top of the cloud is forced to move up and around it. The air forced upward, cools and forms the cloud cap.

Location: Pileus clouds form in conjunction with strong convective clouds and are associated with the cumulus cloud that lies beneath. These occur in areas with strong heating and lots of moisture close to the ground. This means that they commonly occur over land in areas like the eastern United States and Australia (more likely over the Great Dividing Range and in the northern parts during monsoon season) during spring and summer.

Noctilucent clouds

Appearance: Sometimes referred to as shining clouds, noctilucent clouds have a pearly appearance.

Occurrence: Commonly occur in locations found around the 50-65 degree latitude (near the poles) including parts of Europe and Alaska. They have, however, been known to appear over the United States and other parts of Europe much farther south than normal.

Conditions: Ice crystals need two ingredients to form: water vapour and something to stick to. This can include ash from a volcano or similar dust. Within the mesosphere (about 85 km above the surface), air rises above the polar latitudes in summer, bringing up water vapour from below. Since air cools as it rises, the air becomes supersaturated and clouds can form. The air is so cold here that water vapour can freeze

Location: Formed at the boundary between the Earth’s atmosphere and space, called the Polar Mesosphere. The crystals shine because they are high enough to be continuously lit by the sun.>

Lenticular clouds

Appearance: Shaped like a glass lens or flying saucer.

Occurrence: Hangs over the top of a hill or mountain, and when conditions are right can form ‘stacks’ of multiple clouds on top of each other. They form during stable conditions, for example, are the result of air being pushed over a mountain.

Conditions: The oscillation of hot and cold air after passing over a high obstacle such as a mountain can lead to the formation of lenticular clouds. The air flows through the cloud as it passes down the other side of the mountain.

Location: These clouds form at high altitude by strong winds forced over high mountains. These commonly occur in New Zealand, the Snowy Mountains in Australia, as well as in the Andes.

Roll cloud

This roll cloud is moving ahead of a thunderstorm, the clear indication of a gust front in Racine Wisconsin, US. Several drops of rain are visible on the lens, warning of the approaching rain.

Appearance: Similar to incoming rolling surf and at times can resemble a tube or pipe. They form a long snake of tubular cloud.

Occurrence: Not uncommon but are quite spectacular to look at. They occur when the air rolls up due to wind change with altitude.

Conditions: Thunderstorm outflows or incoming cold fronts and their sinking cool air force warm air to rise, forming a cloud as it cools. This is different from a shelf cloud because it appears to roll. These clouds also can be detached from a parent thunderstorm, which may be in view. Occasionally, no other clouds will be seen.

Location: Normally, these clouds appear in the lower atmosphere ahead of a storm or cold front. They have been witnessed in Munich, Nova Scotia, the Mexican Sea of Cortez, and parts of Australia. Those that occur on Cape York Peninsula, Australia are affectionately named ‘morning glory’ clouds.

Altocumulus castellanus or jellyfish clouds

Appearance: These are turret-like protuberances from a cloud deck, similar to those on a castle. They can also appear like a jellyfish with tentacles trailing below it.

Occurrence: These clouds can be a good indicator of rain and thunderstorms later in the day, if they appear in the morning. These clouds can eventually develop into cumulonimbus clouds.

Conditions: Results from the temperature along the top of an altocumulus cloud falling rapidly with height, creating instability. The air above the formation is cooling fast enough that air parcels can rise even higher, creating the castellanus effect. The trailing tentacles or threads are formed by falling precipitation.

Location: They occur in the middle layers of the atmosphere and the formation of their turrets indicates a high level of instability in the air.