Colorful and rare clouds flashed in the sky of Iceland, Norway and other countries. They are formed by clouds composed of ice crystals in the stratosphere.
In late January, the skies in the regions around the Arctic Circle were ablaze with different shades of color. It might even look like some kind of northern Lightsbut in reality the colors came from clouds formed by small ice crystals at high altitudes in the atmosphere.
The clouds were observed right at the end of January, when the stratosphere (35 km thick atmospheric layer, which houses the ozone layer) reached extremely low temperatures. As a result, observers in Iceland, Norway and Finland observed colored lights in the sky.
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These colors in the sky are related to the temperature of the stratosphere and cloud formation. Normally they do not form there because this layer is too dry, but this changes under certain conditions: the clouds in the photo are the so-called “polar stratospheric clouds” (or “PSC”, in the acronym in English), and they form only when the lower stratosphere reaches -81 ºC.
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At these extremely low temperatures, water molecules begin to form small ice crystals, which then form clouds at much higher altitudes than they normally form. When sunlight falls on them, the light is scattered into the different wavelengths that form them.
Here, then, are the “rainbow clouds”, like those in these photos. PSCs can be of different types: type I, for example, is formed by crystals of ice and nitric acid and does not form such impressive colors. Those of type II are those in the photos: they contain pure crystals and have brighter colors.
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Typically, type II clouds occur between two and three times a year, being more frequent in the colder winter months. However, experts believe so clouds of both types may occur more frequently due to climate change.
Source: Live science
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Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
