earthstory:Lenticular, and iridescentAlso known as orographic clouds, they mark an interesting bit o
earthstory:Lenticular, and iridescentAlso known as orographic clouds, they mark an interesting bit of physics in the sky, as cloudscapes have been called. They form as a wave of moist air passes over a hill or island, and while the air rises it cools and condenses its moisture into an information filled cloud. It tells us about the changing temperature conditions the current of moving air undergoes and some of the timelapse films we share depict them recording the changing conditions over the course of a day. The clouds are formed of tiny water droplets, and in this particular case are putting on a spectacular display of diffraction grating iridescence. Just like in a precious opal the water droplets in the cloud are all of the right size to diffract the light hitting them, creating the colourful effect.LozImage credit: Leonardo Caldas via EPODhttp://epod.usra.edu/ -- source link