Posted on by zenya

Clouds of Rainbows

Rainbow that set the sky on fire

Music

In a breathtaking blaze of glory, Nature puts on one of its most spectacular sky shows.
Reds, oranges, blues and greens create a flaming rainbow that stretches above the clouds.

But this circumhorizon arc, as it is known, owes more to ice than fire. It occurs when sunlight passes through ice crystals in high cirrus clouds. It is one of 15 types of ice halos formed only when the most specific of factors dovetail precisely together.

This blanket of fire, covering hundreds of square miles, is the rarest phenomenon of them all. It was spotted in the US on the Washington-Idaho border around midday last Saturday.

Dr Jonathan Fox, of the US National Weather Service in Spokane, Washington, said: 'It was even more spectacular than the Northern Lights. I feel lucky to have seen it because it only forms in very rare situations. This is the first one I've ever seen. It was a breathtaking sight and it hung around for ! about an hour.'

To create a rainbow of fire, clouds must be at least 20,000ft high and the ice crystals within them align horizontally instead of their usual vertical position.
The sun also needs to be at least 58 degrees above the horizon.

Then, the magic can begin.

From my Scout, for our pleasure,
with love,
Fati

11 Replies to “Clouds of Rainbows”

  2. HI Fatimah U like to be observed the sky,especially the rainbow sky or the firing sky,really?? WELL ,thanks for sharing. Mercury

  3. That’s wonderful. I never even heard about such beauty of nature. Thaks for sharing. Love, Ramute.

  4. HI all,thank you for enjoying this nature event I never heard of it too or have seen it in person but its out west from where I am and as I read about it the conditions have to be just right to get the effect of this event.Thank you for feeling and enjoying this cloud photo.LoveFatimah

  5. Hi fatima,Really great information. I never knew about this thing before. Its amazing.Did you share this thing with your friend who LOVES clouds?? I feel you’ve already shared this with him, since he is your best friend :)sadaf**Please reply to my PM:(

  6. hi,FatimahI have never seen the rainbow you posted.It’s really the rarest phenomenon nobody can create.I like it very much.Thank you for sharing.enjoywangli

  7. Hi WangliI am happy to see you again and to know you enjoy skies also 🙂 I try to post nature events for the whole world to see since some happen here in USA and some in other parts of our wonderful world.I am hoping others will do the same from their countries as well.We can never know or see to much.Nice to see you here again:)Fatimah

  8. Hi Fatimah!The picture is fantastic! And your music is also so fantastic! I liked them so much!Gracias! Good night! :)Gopal.

  9. HI Gopal,thank you for your visit as always and loving nature as I know you do :)Enya is very magical in her writing style of music . I love it so much.Thank you my friendFatimah

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