Todays pic is one of those that is posted just for the sheer beauty of it.
Iridescent Clouds
Why would clouds appear to be different colors? A relatively rare phenomenon known as iridescent clouds can show unusual colors vividly or a whole spectrum of colors simultaneously. These clouds are formed of small water droplets of nearly uniform size. When the Sun is in the right position and mostly hidden by thick clouds, these thinner clouds significantly diffract sunlight in a nearly coherent manner, with different colors being deflected by different amounts. Therefore, different colors will come to the observer from slightly different directions. Many clouds start with uniform regions that could show iridescence but quickly become too thick, too mixed, or too far from the Sun to exhibit striking colors. Pictured above, iridescent clouds were photographed over Norway two months ago.
Credit & Copyright: Arne Danielsen
A larger version of this piccy can be found here, this is 73K Jpeg .
Previous Pic Of The Day posts
09th Mar 03
08th Mar 03
07th Mar 03
06th Mar 03Courtesy of Garp
05th Mar 03Courtesy of Grouch
03rd Mar 03
02nd Mar 03
Iridescent Clouds
Why would clouds appear to be different colors? A relatively rare phenomenon known as iridescent clouds can show unusual colors vividly or a whole spectrum of colors simultaneously. These clouds are formed of small water droplets of nearly uniform size. When the Sun is in the right position and mostly hidden by thick clouds, these thinner clouds significantly diffract sunlight in a nearly coherent manner, with different colors being deflected by different amounts. Therefore, different colors will come to the observer from slightly different directions. Many clouds start with uniform regions that could show iridescence but quickly become too thick, too mixed, or too far from the Sun to exhibit striking colors. Pictured above, iridescent clouds were photographed over Norway two months ago.
Credit & Copyright: Arne Danielsen
A larger version of this piccy can be found here, this is 73K Jpeg .
Previous Pic Of The Day posts
09th Mar 03
08th Mar 03
07th Mar 03
06th Mar 03Courtesy of Garp
05th Mar 03Courtesy of Grouch
03rd Mar 03
02nd Mar 03
