The Rare Phenomena Rainbows
by Janice Pariza
Title
The Rare Phenomena Rainbows
Artist
Janice Pariza
Medium
Photograph - Photography Art
Description
A rare, rare sight, Iridescent Clouds.
Cloud iridescence is the occurrence of colors in a cloud similar to those seen in oil films on puddles, and is similar to irisation. It is a fairly uncommon phenomenon, most often observed in altocumulus, cirrocumulus and lenticular clouds, and very rarely in cirrus clouds. The colors are usually pastel, but can be very vivid. Iridescence is generally produced near the sun, with the sun's glare masking it, so it is more easily seen by hiding the sun behind a tree or building. Other aids are dark glasses, or observing the sky reflected in a convex mirror or in a pool of water.
Iridescent clouds are a diffraction phenomenon caused by small water droplets or small ice crystals individually scattering light. Larger ice crystals produce halos.
If parts of clouds have small droplets or crystals of similar size, their cumulative effect is seen as colors. The cloud must be optically thin, so that most rays encounter only a single droplet. Iridescence is therefore mostly seen at cloud edges or in semi-transparent clouds, and newly forming clouds produce the brightest and most colorful iridescence. When a thin cloud has droplets of similar size over a large extent, the iridescence takes on the structured form of a corona, a central bright disk around the sun or moon surrounded by one or more colored rings. In one instance a lunar corona was observed, with the iridescent cirrus cloud 1113.6 km (36,000-44,600 ft) above the mean sea level at a temperature of −70 C (−94 F). The pure corona was 9.5 km (31,000 ft) above the mean sea level, at a temperature of −60 C (−76 F).
PURCHASE OPTIONS:
Prints of this art are available on canvas, metal, acrylic and gallery prints, framed or unframed, greeting cards and iPhone or Galaxy phone covers and so many other quality items. FAA has a large selection of frames, mats and surfaces available for you to create museum quality masterpieces of your original print selections. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact me and I can give you any suggestions! Thank you!
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I hope you enjoyed this visual journey! Please return often as I upload fresh work quite often! I am grateful for your time!
Uploaded
August 1st, 2013
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Comments (51)
Nancy Stein
An amazing image, love how the rainbow seems to give 'wings' to the middle cloud. We look for rainbows on cloudy days, its sometimes all to easy to remember that their promise is always there.
JOHN TELFER
Janice, Amazing photo with such a great sky shot and love the way you have framed this shot with the mountains on each side leading down towards the mountain in the middle of the photo, great depth and a beautiful detailed photo, fav, voted and google promoted
Sherry Goeben
This is so beautiful and I had no idea this occurred in nature! Plus, I faved and voted!
Ellen Levinson
Wow - fabulous capture of a rare occurrence. So beautiful. fav/v/g+
Janice Pariza replied:
I did not realize how rare this was until I read up on it, a once in a lifetime capture! Thanks!