Iridescent clouds shine bright over this Finnish sunset. These colorful clouds are nacreous clouds, also known as mother-of-pearl clouds. Formed from ice crystals during frigid conditions in the lower stratosphere, these clouds are most visible before dawn and after sunset, when their high altitude catches sunlight while the lower atmosphere doesn’t. These rare clouds form mostly in high latitudes during winter. While they appear similar to other iridescent clouds that occur all over the world, nacreous clouds are far brighter and more vivid. (Image credit: D. Lehtonen; via APOD)
Tag: nacreous clouds
Nacreous Clouds
During winter, the polar skies can ignite with mother-of-pearl-like iridescence. Polar stratospheric clouds – also known as nacreous clouds – are a rare, beautiful, and destructive type of cloud found only in high latitudes at altitudes of 15 – 25 km. They are formed from tiny crystals of ice and nitric acid, and they shine brightest a few hours before sunrise or after sunset, when sunlight shines on them but not the surface. Their destructive side is connected with ozone depletion; they serve as reaction sites for chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere to react and produce ozone-destroying molecules. The clouds may have cultural significance as well; at least one study suggests they were part of Munch’s inspiration for “The Scream”. (Image credit: A. Light; via Gizmodo)
