At the risk of becoming the all-rainbows-all-the-time blog, I had brave monotony to share one more. Though these rare formations have the familiar red-to-violet spectrum, they are technically not rainbows, but “circumzenithal arcs.” They owe their upside-down shape to light refracted by ice crystals high up in the atmosphere. Note also that the colors appear in reverse order, with violet on top and red at the bottom.
Circumzenithal arcs are about as common as rainbows, but they seem rarer; because they appear at such high altitudes, they are harder to spot.A good place to look for them is in cirrus clouds.
One more reason to look up more often: you might see the sky smiling back at you.
Via:The Weather Network, with thanks to Michael McQuay for the tip.
Images: Jack Justice and Michel Talbot.
November 24th, 2012
Lost your spark?
The Joy Jumpstart is a 7-day, self-guided program to help you break out of a rut and reconnect with what makes you feel truly alive.
- Sherry Crowson on November 26, 2012
Well, thanks for the sky “smile”!! We sure need something that spectacular on a after-holiday Monday!
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