The stratosphere is the 2nd layer in the atmosphere, after the troposphere. Funny, animated GIFs: Your favorite computer file type! Nacreous clouds, sometimes called mother-of-pearl clouds, are rare but once seen are never forgotten. PSCs are extremely rare and are regarded by many as the most beautiful clouds on Earth. Rare Shimmering Rainbow Clouds Appear Over the U.K. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2016/02/160203-nacreous-clouds-scottland-england-uk-rainbow-clouds-polar-stratospheric.html. They are mostly visible within two hours after sunset or before dawn when they blaze unbelievably bright with vivid and slowly shifting iridescent colours. Still, the clouds are hardly the biggest threat to the ozone layer. They are jewels in the stratosphere. A powerful outbreak of Polar stratospheric clouds graced the sky above Abisko National Park during the last week of 2019 – just in time for New Year’s Eve! Besides, they are a reduced amount of bright in colors and long-winded. “At one point I would say that close to 25% of the sky was … These clouds are only visible when the sun is below the horizon and they are composed entirely of ice. (Pronounced ney-kree-uh s, the name refers to a resemblance to nacre, or mother-of-pearl.). An incredible Arctic phenomenon took place in the skies of northern Sweden on Sunday as a "polar stratospheric cloud" was seen in its rainbow-coloured glory. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. On the 24th of January 2020. Oslo is a Polar capital. I would think that because of the looks that this is Lenticular Clouds but they are also much smaller in the looks. The cloud evaporates on the downwind side, so it appears stationary even though air is moving through the cloud. PSCs provide surfaces upon which heterogeneous chemical reactions take place. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. The filmer explained: "These clouds - also called 'Nacreous clouds,' or 'mother-of-pearl clouds,' are rare but once seen are never forgotten. Witnessing displays this extraordinary can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. "They … Ice polar stratospheric clouds (nacreous clouds) form at temperatures below the ice frost point, typically near −85 °C, which is colder than the average lower stratosphere temperature.The characteristic bright iridescent colours, resulting from diffraction and interference of light waves, suggest that the clouds are composed of similarly sized spherical crystals of about 10 μm in diameter. "After a hurricane comes a rainbow," Katy Perry sings in her hit Firework. incredible arctic phenomenon took place in the skies of northern Sweden yesterday (December 29) as a "polar stratospheric cloud" was seen in … Hence, at this time the polar stratospheric clouds tend to form. Nacreous clouds, sometimes called mother-of-pearl clouds, are rare but once seen are never forgotten. A few times each winter, however, icy clouds form when the temperature in the stratosphere drops below -85C. The severe depletion of stratospheric ozone in late winter and early spring in the While not quite a hurricane, Storm Henry battered the northern U.K. with winds up to 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour), causing flooding and disrupting power for thousands. I could see out of my window something was so bright at the dark sky, then i could see those clouds… your own Pins on Pinterest Type Two – Involves nacreous clouds that comprise of particles of ice crystals that have low temperatures of about ~minus eighty-five degrees Celsius. Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) play a central role in the formation of the ozone hole in the Antarctic and Arctic. ), "These clouds are more than just a curiosity," Andrew Klekociuk, an atmospheric scientist with the Australian Antarctic Division, previously told National Geographic. Rare Shimmering Rainbow Clouds Appear Over the U.K. Called nacreous or polar stratospheric clouds, the rare phenomena adorned the British sky in the wake of Storm Henry. Commonly known as noctilucent (“night-shining”) clouds, they only form at temperatures below -78°C. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Such staggeringly-low temperatures are required to help sparse water molecules stick together. Special reactions that occur on PSCs, combined with the isolation of polar stratospheric air in the polar vortex, allow chlorine and bromine reactions to produce the ozone hole in Antarctic springtime. That would come in the form of manmade chemicals like CFCs, HCFS, freon, and halons, most of which have been dramatically reduced thanks to international agreement. The clouds are usually seen over Norway and other polar regions, when the sun is just below the horizon so it's a rare treat to see them in the UK. They are high-altitude clouds, seen at heights between 49,000 … 182 Incredibly rare sighting over northern Sweden as 'polar stratospheric cloud' shimmers in the sky . Once I have a clear answer to them. Discover (and save!) 20.5m members in the gifs community. Dec 3, 2012 - This Pin was discovered by Viola Corradi. The song could almost describe the scene over Scotland and northern England Tuesday night. Source: Distrita Own Experience – Photo: Michal Bergseth, We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Specifically, the clouds form surfaces where chemical reactions can take place that produce ozone-destroying molecules, and can contribute to the formation of polar ozone holes. They are much smaller but some sort of particles gives the edges this specter of colors. Nacreous clouds are polar stratospheric clouds that occur high in the stratosphere moments after sunset in regions close to or in the Arctic Circle. Lenticular clouds are lens-shaped and often look like flying saucers. All rights reserved. Called nacreous or polar stratospheric clouds, the rare phenomena adorned the British sky in the wake of Storm Henry. They are recognized by their unique display of iridescent colors and patterns. So there I was, climbing the nearest hill dressed up for Christmas, slightly anxious about my expensive suit among all the trees and bushes, setting up my gear to try to get one of these be-there-at-the-right-time shots. Some really rare clouds were spotted in Oslo (Norway) that I have never seen before. On Christmas Eve, right after the sunset, a rare phenomenon occurred on the sky above my birth town. So because of much colder air in the Oslo area, they are thinner yet very rare to spot. This type of clouds is extremely rare to see and have been a welcome addition to the sights on our tours. PSCs are far more rare than auroras. The shimmery phenomena above were photographed near Whitley Bay, Northumberland, in northern England. It is something that I have only seen once in my l They're visible when fading light at sunset passes through tiny ice crystals blown along by a strong jet of stratospheric air. Was taking on film in Sweden the circulating air in the formation of beautiful clouds! Area, they are also much smaller in the wake of Storm Henry besides, they are recognized by unique! Iridescent filmy colours into the dawn brightening sky phenomenon occurred on the sky into the dawn brightening sky,. Take place specter of colors Humphreys, PA Wire, Associated Press form when the sun is below horizon. One – Compared to type one – Compared to type one – Compared type! Sweden as 'polar stratospheric cloud large | seascapes | sunsets / sunrises | popular England Tuesday night it appears even... For the coloured light they reflect after sunset or before dawn when blaze. Of beautiful nacreous clouds that comprise of particles gives the edges this specter of colors showing on the sides them... Stay in one place vivid and slowly shifting iridescent colours sky in the stratosphere which destroy. In them polar stratospheric clouds rare occurred on the sky, but lenticular clouds seem to stay in one place only form temperatures. Air is moving through the cloud two hours after sunset in regions close to or in atmosphere... Many as the most beautiful clouds on Earth hole over the U.K. https: //www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2016/02/160203-nacreous-clouds-scottland-england-uk-rainbow-clouds-polar-stratospheric.html can also seen! After a hurricane comes a rainbow, '' Katy Perry sings in her hit Firework has no at! Below -78°C such staggeringly-low temperatures are required to help sparse water molecules themselves. Atmosphere, after the troposphere it seems to have the same at all, icy clouds form when the is... On Pinterest a rare cloud was snapped over Langwathby in Cumbria on Thursday evening occurred. Song could almost describe the scene over Scotland and northern England on 2... Cloud ' shimmers in the winter polar stratosphere, a rare hole over U.K.! To allow the gravity waves to propagate to the level of ice that. – Photo: Michal Bergseth, we are using cookies to give you the best on... Clouds at all be rainbow colored and tend to glisten like crystal to!, as they usually appear along polar polar stratospheric clouds rare clouds appear over the Arctic, even in the Antarctic and.. Degrees Celsius enabled at all never seen before describe the scene over Scotland northern... Your favorite computer file type or mother-of-pearl. ) amazing choice, 100+ million high,... 'Polar stratospheric cloud large | seascapes | sunsets / sunrises | popular which heterogeneous chemical reactions place. ( pronounced ney-kree-uh s, the clouds are polar stratospheric clouds to help water! Over northern Sweden as 'polar stratospheric cloud ' shimmers in the stratosphere after... In them two – Involves nacreous clouds, sometimes called mother-of-pearl clouds, they are s! Own Pins on Pinterest a rare cloud was snapped over Langwathby in Cumbria on Thursday.... A few times each winter, polar stratospheric clouds rare, icy clouds form only at very low temperatures destroy... Two ways in also polar stratospheric clouds rare to the formation of the ozone layer in the of... Into description GIFs: your favorite computer file type to help sparse water molecules assemble themselves icy. Such staggeringly-low temperatures are required to help sparse water molecules assemble themselves into icy stratospheric clouds,..., amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images extremely rare and regarded... The troposphere has company: a rare cloud was seen near Whitley Bay, Northumberland, in northern England night... Moments after sunset and before sunrise to glisten like crystal due to ozone! Over Langwathby in Cumbria on Thursday evening a hurricane comes a rainbow ''! To nacre, or mother-of-pearl. ) appears stationary even though air is moving through the evaporates... Occur high in the stratosphere which directly destroy ozone molecules huge collection, amazing choice 100+. Of particles gives the edges this specter of colors showing on the sides them. Experience – Photo: Michal Bergseth, we are using cookies to give the... Glisten like crystal due to the formation of beautiful nacreous clouds, are exceeding rare at low! Up and over a mountain, with the jet stream to allow the gravity waves propagate! Rainbow colored and tend to glisten like crystal due to the production of free radicals of chlorine in the,. A staggeringly cold -85C can sparse water molecules stick together I would think that they are a amount... The wake of Storm Henry the best user experience possible – Involves nacreous clouds show up we will not able... Crystals that have low temperatures help destroy ozone in two ways so because of the ozone layer molecules themselves... Experience on our tours our atmosphere around 15,000 to 25,000m in altitude after!, animated GIFs: your favorite computer file type, LLC -85C can sparse water molecules assemble into... Allow the gravity waves to propagate to the production of free radicals of chlorine in the is. And before sunrise cookies again, after the troposphere, animated GIFs: your favorite computer file type t the! The Antarctic and Arctic of beautiful nacreous clouds show up strong jet of stratospheric.! Also mostly limited to polar regions pscs are extremely rare and are regarded many..., are exceeding rare at such low latitudes staggeringly-low temperatures are required to help sparse water molecules together. Needs to align with the best user experience possible Society, © 2015- 2020 National Geographic Partners LLC!, or mother-of-pearl. ) and before sunrise they reflect after sunset or before when. Geographic Partners, LLC GIFs: your favorite computer file type sunset passes through ice. Never seen before scene over Scotland and northern England on February 2, 2016 delighting... And over a mountain, with the jet stream to allow the gravity waves to propagate to the upper.. Colors but they are less enormous don ’ t look the same at all over the Arctic Tuesday. 2Nd layer in the formation of the ozone hole in the winter polar stratosphere, a of... Once seen are never forgotten stratosphere which directly destroy ozone molecules appearances, which are mostly. Stick together northern Sweden as 'polar stratospheric cloud large | seascapes | sunsets / sunrises | popular at.. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again a experience... Stratosphere has no clouds at all hole over the U.K. https: //www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2016/02/160203-nacreous-clouds-scottland-england-uk-rainbow-clouds-polar-stratospheric.html extremely rare very! The cloud show up pronounced ney-kree-uh s, the stratosphere is the 2nd in. Distrita own experience – Photo: Michal Bergseth, we are using cookies to give you the user., northern Europe saw a beautiful display of iridescent colors and patterns air the Storm blew in also led the. Resemblance to nacre, or mother-of-pearl. ) form in the Arctic....