Iridescent clouds

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Iridescent clouds

Location           : Top of Saddleback Mountain, Kiama, NSW, Australia
Date                  : 2022-05-07  11am
Photographers: 1st one - Lisa Li.  Rest - Paul.

An iridescent cloud is an uncommon phenomenon, the result of diffraction ... small droplets of water or small crystals of ice individually scattering light.

If the small droplets/crystals are of similar size, their cumulative effect is seen as iridescent colours. 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.


Here is another iridescent cloud I photographed 7 years ago.
Location: Gungartan Mountain, Kosciuszko National Park, NSW, Australia
Date       : 2015-03-13

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Please visit my main page at https://mntviews.blogspot.com/

Iridescent cloud

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An iridescent cloud ~~~

It is an uncommon phenomenon, the result of diffraction ... small droplets of water or small crystals of ice individually scattering light.

If the small droplets/crystals are of similar size, their cumulative effect is seen as iridescent colours. 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.

You may have seen this type of cloud in your own travel, or seen more colourful photos on the internet.  But it is so much sweeter if you can capture it with your own camera.

Above photo was taken on 2015 March, during a climbing trip to Gungartan Mountain in Kosciuszko National Park in NSW, Australia. Photos and trip report of that climb are in:
http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/gungartan-kerries-ridge-nsw-australia.html

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Please visit my main page at http://mntviews.blogspot.com/