Ice cloud rainbows, also known as “polar stratospheric clouds” or “nacreous clouds”, are a rare type of cloud formation that occurs in the Earth’s stratosphere at high altitudes of 15,000-25,000 meters (49,000-82,000 feet).
These clouds are made up of tiny ice crystals that scatter and refract sunlight, producing a stunning display of iridescent colors ranging from pink and orange to green and blue. Unlike regular rainbows, which are formed by the refraction and reflection of sunlight in raindrops, ice cloud rainbows are formed by the interaction of sunlight with ice crystals in the atmosphere.
They are typically visible during the winter months in polar regions, such as Norway, Sweden, Finland, Canada, and Alaska. They are a rare and beautiful natural phenomenon that can be observed from the ground, but are also visible from aircraft and satellites.
If you are interested in learning more about them, scroll down to read more about it.
Table of Contents
- What are Ice Cloud Rainbows
- How do Ice Cloud Rainbows work?
- Some Similar Effects
- Study of Ice Cloud Rainbows
- References and Resources
What are Ice Cloud Rainbows
Ice cloud rainbows, also known as “polar stratospheric clouds” or “nacreous clouds”, are a rare type of cloud formation that occurs in the Earth’s stratosphere at high altitudes of 15,000-25,000 meters (49,000-82,000 feet).
These clouds are made up of tiny ice crystals that scatter and refract sunlight, producing a stunning display of iridescent colors ranging from pink and orange to green and blue. Unlike regular rainbows, which are formed by the refraction and reflection of sunlight in raindrops, ice cloud rainbows are formed by the interaction of sunlight with ice crystals in the atmosphere.
Ice cloud rainbows are typically visible during the winter months in polar regions, such as Norway, Sweden, Finland, Canada, and Alaska. They are a rare and beautiful natural phenomenon that can be observed from the ground, but are also visible from aircraft and satellites.
How do Ice Cloud Rainbows Work?
Ice cloud rainbows, also known as polar stratospheric clouds, are formed by the interaction of sunlight with ice crystals in the Earth’s stratosphere at high altitudes.
These clouds are made up of tiny ice crystals, typically less than 10 microns in diameter, which are much smaller than the raindrops that form regular rainbows. As sunlight passes through these tiny ice crystals, it is refracted or bent at different angles, causing it to be separated into its different colors, just like a prism. The colors of the rainbow appear in a specific order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
What makes ice cloud rainbows so spectacular is the way the sunlight interacts with the ice crystals in the clouds. Because the ice crystals are shaped like hexagonal plates or columns, they can refract sunlight in a way that produces a unique pattern of iridescent colors. This pattern, called interference, results from the constructive and destructive interference of light waves as they pass through the ice crystals.
As the ice cloud particles move and align in the stratosphere, they create different patterns of interference, which can give the ice cloud rainbow its distinctive wave-like appearance. The colors can also change and shift as the angle of the sunlight changes or as the ice crystals move in the atmosphere, creating a dynamic and ever-changing display of color.
Some Similar Effects
There are several atmospheric phenomena that are related.
- Halos: Halos are optical phenomena that occur when sunlight is refracted by ice crystals in the atmosphere. They often appear as bright rings or arcs around the sun or moon and can be caused by different types of ice crystals, including those found in ice cloud rainbows.
- Sundogs: Sundogs, also known as parhelia, are bright spots of light that appear on either side of the sun, often accompanied by a halo. They are caused by the refraction of sunlight by ice crystals in the atmosphere, similar to ice cloud rainbows.
- Light pillars: Light pillars are vertical columns of light that appear above or below a light source, such as the sun or streetlights. They are caused by the reflection of light by ice crystals in the atmosphere, and can be seen in cold, clear conditions.
- Aurora borealis: The aurora borealis, or Northern Lights, are a natural light display in the Earth’s atmosphere that are caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with the Earth’s magnetic field. They often appear as colorful, shimmering curtains of light in the sky and can be seen in high-latitude regions.
All of these phenomena are examples of the beautiful and intricate ways that light interacts with the Earth’s atmosphere, and they are a testament to the wonders of nature.
Study of Ice Cloud Rainbows
Ice cloud rainbows, also known as polar stratospheric clouds or nacreous clouds, have been studied by many atmospheric scientists and researchers. One notable scientist who has studied these clouds is Mark Weber, a researcher at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Weber has conducted research on the formation, structure, and properties of ice cloud rainbows using ground-based observations, satellite data, and computer models. He has also led several expeditions to study the clouds in Arctic and Antarctic regions.
Other scientists who have studied them include Theodore Deshler at the University of Wyoming, Cora Randall at the University of Colorado Boulder, and Michael Pitts at NASA Langley Research Center. These researchers have contributed to our understanding of the physical properties and behavior of ice cloud rainbows, as well as their potential impact on climate and atmospheric chemistry.
References and Resources
In addition to the Ice Cloud Rainbows, please check out our complete list of illusions.
