I saw this picture on Facebook and just has to share it! A weatherman in Florida described it: "Steve Weagle says "It's called iridescence. It is caused by sunlight refracting through ice crystals." They say that it occurred this past Tuesday in Florida.
Ormond by the Sea
FL
FL
Iridescent clouds contain small water droplets of similar sizes diffracting the sunlight to produce various colors.
These photos were taken shortly after 7pm facing west, with the direct light of the sun blocked by lower dark clouds.
These photos were taken shortly after 7pm facing west, with the direct light of the sun blocked by lower dark clouds.
I just had to get more information on these iridescence clouds, so here goes...
Iridescent Clouds
August 16, 2011
Photographer: Randell Teodoro (top); David Lee Tiller (bottom); David's Web site
Summary Authors: David Lee Tiller; Randell Teodoro; Jim Foster
The photos above show examples of iridescence in mid-level clouds. Iridescence or irisation occurs in clouds composed on water droplets having similar sizes. They're most frequently observed in altocumulus or altostratustype clouds -- in clouds not undergoing substantial vertical growth. Diffraction processes are responsible for their formation and their metallic coloration. Note that the reds are found on the outside of the blues.
Midday iridescence can be spotted more readily if you're wearing sunglasses. However, always use extreme cautionwhen looking near the Sun. Roof peaks were used in both pictures to block out the Sun. Top photo taken on June 13, 2011 from Manila, The Philippines. Bottom photo taken on July 9, 2011 from Nashua, New Hampshire, U.S.
Summary Authors: David Lee Tiller; Randell Teodoro; Jim Foster
The photos above show examples of iridescence in mid-level clouds. Iridescence or irisation occurs in clouds composed on water droplets having similar sizes. They're most frequently observed in altocumulus or altostratustype clouds -- in clouds not undergoing substantial vertical growth. Diffraction processes are responsible for their formation and their metallic coloration. Note that the reds are found on the outside of the blues.
Midday iridescence can be spotted more readily if you're wearing sunglasses. However, always use extreme cautionwhen looking near the Sun. Roof peaks were used in both pictures to block out the Sun. Top photo taken on June 13, 2011 from Manila, The Philippines. Bottom photo taken on July 9, 2011 from Nashua, New Hampshire, U.S.
