极地平流层云

2020 January 15 Iridescent Clouds over Sweden Image Credit & Copyright: Goran Strand Explanation: Why would these clouds multi-colored? A relatively rare phenomenon in clouds known as iridescence can bring up unusual colors vividly or even a whole spectrum of colors simultaneously. These polar stratospheric clouds clouds, also known as nacreous and mother-of-pearl clouds, are formed of small water droplets of nearly uniform size. When the Sun is in the right position and, typically, hidden from direct view, these thin clouds can be seen significantly diffracting 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…

2020 January 10 Nacreous Clouds over Sweden Image Credit & Copyright: P-M Hedén (Clear Skies, TWAN) Explanation: Vivid and lustrous, wafting iridescent waves of color filled this mountain and skyscape near Tanndalen, Sweden on January 3. Known as nacreous clouds or mother-of-pearl clouds, they are rare. This northern winter season they have been making unforgettable appearances at high latitudes, though. A type of polar stratospheric cloud, they form when unusually cold temperatures in the usually cloudless lower stratosphere form ice crystals. Still sunlit at altitudes of around 15 to 25 kilometers the clouds can diffract sunlight after sunset and before the dawn. Nacreous 瑞典上空的珍珠云 影像来源及版权: P-M Hedén (Clear Skies, TWAN) 说明: 1月3日，在瑞典Tanndalen附近，山峦和天空笼罩在鲜明飘忽的彩云之中。这种被称作珍珠云或珠母云的罕见现象，在这个北方高纬度地区的冬季出现，令人难以忘怀。在通常无云的平流层下部，当温度异常寒冷时会生成冰晶，从而形成这种极地平流层云。在日落后和黎明前，15至25千米的高空仍有阳光照射，同时云层还能对阳光形成衍射。（北京天文馆 曹军）