Articles About Atmospheric Science, Meteorology, and Climatology

Tangent arc - Alaska

This article explores the rare atmospheric phenomenon known as the tangent arc in Alaska, discussing its characteristics, formation, and significance. It highlights the captivating beauty of this optical display and the conditions required to witness it.

OPOD - Prismatic Road Signs

This article explores the science behind prismatic road signs, from the use of glass beads to modern prism arrays, and how they enhance visibility for drivers. It highlights the complexity involved in designing effective road signage systems and invites readers to appreciate the ingenious science behind these colorful beacons.

Raindisk

This article explores the fascinating phenomenon of raindisks, which are vibrant and colorful optical displays formed when sunlight interacts with raindrops in the atmosphere. It delves into the science behind raindisks and discusses their illusion of size, while also highlighting the beauty and allure of these fleeting natural wonders.

Lake Michigan fogbow

The article explores the captivating Lake Michigan fogbow, a unique atmospheric phenomenon that forms in foggy conditions over the lake. It discusses the science behind its formation, its distinct characteristics, and provides tips for capturing its beauty through photography.

Lowitz Arcs - Portugal

This article explores the rare atmospheric phenomenon of Lowitz arcs, including their formation, observations in Portugal, and the ongoing research into crystal shapes and orientations that contribute to these captivating displays.

Arago's Spot or Fresnel's, or Poisson's - OPOD

This article explores the phenomenon of Arago's Spot, also known as Fresnel's or Poisson's Spot, and its role in settling the debate between corpuscular and wave theories of light. It delves into the experiment that helped determine the nature of light and discusses the complex mathematics and visualizations behind the phenomenon.

Cloud shadows - OPOD

This article explores the fascinating phenomenon of cloud shadows and their illusion of projecting upwards onto a higher layer of clouds, discussing the factors and science behind their formation and providing tips for appreciating and capturing their beauty.

Parhelic circle in cirrus streaks

This article explores the mesmerizing phenomenon of the parhelic circle in cirrus streaks, delving into its causes, characteristics, and the science behind its formation. It also discusses other associated optical phenomena and offers tips on how to capture this ethereal display through photography.

Twilight rays and shadows

This article explores the mesmerizing phenomenon of twilight rays and shadows, discussing the science behind their formation and the role of clouds in enhancing their visual impact. It also highlights the variations in ray patterns and the cultural significance of twilight rays, offering tips for photographing these ethereal displays.

Wegener Arcs

This article explores the rare and captivating atmospheric optical phenomenon known as Wegener Arcs, which are formed through a unique internal reflection within ice crystals. Through ray tracing simulations and identification guides, scientists continue to deepen our understanding of these elusive arcs and unravel the mysteries of our dynamic atmosphere.

Eclipsed "Omega" Sunrise, French Guiana

This article explores the phenomenon of the "omega" sunrise mirage, a rare optical illusion that creates an upside-down dark hourglass shape during a partially eclipsed sun in French Guiana. The captivating image captured by Michael Gill provides valuable insights into the mechanics and specific atmospheric conditions required for this phenomenon to occur.

Streak close up

This article explores the phenomenon of streak close-ups, delving into the intricacies of how light and shadows interact to create elongated and distorted streaks of light in the sky. It also discusses the factors that influence the appearance of streak close-ups and offers tips for capturing their beauty in photographs.

Twinned bows

This article explores the enigmatic phenomenon of twinned bows, which are characterized by the splitting of primary and secondary bows. The possible explanations for their occurrence include non-spherical raindrops or ice spheres, but further research is needed to definitively understand these captivating atmospheric optical phenomena.

Mt Etna's Shadow

The article explores the captivating phenomenon of Mt Etna's shadow, discussing its formation, interaction with atmospheric conditions, and its appeal to photographers. It also highlights how shadows in the atmosphere can create mesmerizing displays, reminding us of the beauty and complexity of nature.

Rainbow patches in the sky

This article explores the phenomenon of rainbow patches in the sky, discussing their unique shape, formation, and the science behind them. It highlights the interplay between sunlight, raindrops, and atmospheric conditions that give rise to these captivating displays.

Sussex Circumzenithal Arc

Discover the captivating Sussex Circumzenithal Arc, a stunning atmospheric phenomenon formed by sunlight passing through hexagonal plate ice crystals in high cirrus clouds. This elusive "grin in the sky" appears fleetingly, making it a mesmerizing and fleeting display of vibrant colors.

Kern & Lowitz Arcs, England - OPOD

The article discusses the sighting of rare atmospheric optics phenomena known as Kern and Lowitz arcs in England. The images captured by Reima Eresmaa reveal the beauty and complexity of these arcs, highlighting the ongoing exploration and study of atmospheric optics.

Parhelic cicle, low sun, Paris

This article explores the formation and unique characteristics of the parhelic circle phenomenon when the sun is low in Paris, including the presence of a white 120° parhelion and a diminished overall brightness. It also discusses other atmospheric optical phenomena that can accompany parhelic circles and provides tips for capturing their beauty through photography.

Sky Wide Rays

This article explores the science behind the mesmerizing phenomenon of sky wide rays, which are formed when sunlight interacts with small water droplets in humid air. It discusses the role of humidity, perspective, and atmospheric conditions in the formation and convergence of these captivating rays.

Moondogs New Zealand

This article explores the captivating beauty of moondogs, a stunning atmospheric phenomenon also known as paraselenae or lunar halos. It features an extraordinary image captured in New Zealand, offering a glimpse into the mesmerizing allure of these celestial companions of the Moon.