Here is a compilation of spectacular and rare natural phenomenons that inspire awe and wonder and make us think what more does mother nature has in store for us.
25. Haloes
Halos are optical phenomenon produced by ice crystals creating colored or white arcs in the sky. Mostly they are visible near the sun or moon, but sometimes they can be seen even in the opposite part of the sky. In extreme cold weather they can also form around artificial lights.
24. Moonbows
A moonbow is a rainbow produced by moonlight rather than from direct sunlight. Moonbows are usually faint. Because of the faint light usually it becomes difficult for the human eye to discern colors in a moonbow and as a result they often appear to be white. However, all colors of a moonbow do appear in long exposure photographs.
23. Virga
Virga is an observable wisp of precipitation that falls from a cloud, but evaporates before reaching the ground. It is very common in the desert and in temperate climates. In North America, it is commonly seen in the Western United States and Canadian Prairies.
22. Upward lightning
Upward lightning is rare. Most lightning streams either between clouds or from a cloud to the ground. In this special case, electrons stream earthward, producing an electrical current and a bright streak of light like a tree branching out.
21. Condo Effect Fog
This photo was taken in Panama City, Florida. Fog is seen rising off the Gulf and over the buildings along the beach, giving it a tsunami effect. According to a meteorologist this was due to “highly localized orographic lifting.” The fog formed in spots where the onshore breeze was forced to rise up and over the tall buildings. The ascending air cooled and the water vapor condensed, forming fog.
20. Water Spout
A waterspout is an intense columnar vortex connected to a cumuliform cloud that occurs over a body of water. They are often weaker that most of its land counterparts. They do not suck up water. They are mostly observed in tropic and warm climate zones.
19. Funnel Cloud
As the name suggests, it is a funnel-shaped cloud of condensed water droplets. It extends from the base of a cloud (usually cumulonimbus), but never reaches the ground. Funnel clouds are usually visible as a cone-shaped protuberance from the main cloud base. They are most frequently spotted during thunderstorms. If it touches the ground it becomes a tornado.
18. Mammatus Clouds
Mammatus clouds or mammatocumulus are cellular pattern of pouches hanging underneath the base of a cloud. They are formed in sinking air contrary to any other form of clouds that are formed in rising air. There are various hypotheses offered behind the mechanism of its formation.
17. Noctilucent Clouds
Night clouds or noctilucent clouds are dull luminous mesospheric clouds in the upper atmosphere. They are visible in a deep twilight. They are made of crystals of water ice and most commonly are observed in the summer months at latitudes between 50° and 70° north and south of the equator. They can only be observed when the Sun is below the horizon.
16. Triple Rainbows
Rainbows are formed when sunlight is refracted off water droplets suspended in air. Sometimes when sun breaks through dark thunderclouds during a heavy downpour, more than one rainbow is created that is only visible against a dark backdrop.
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