Cloud iridescence

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Cloud iridescence is a common phenomenon in which a cloud shows vivid unusual colors or an entire spectrum at once.

Contents

[edit] Formation

They are formed from small water droplets of near uniform size. When the sun is properly positioned, mostly behind thick clouds, these thin clouds almost coherently diffract sunlight, and as a rainbow, different wavelengths are diffracted different amounts. Thus the colors hit the observer from different directions.

[edit] Similar examples of diffraction

See also:

For similar looking clouds, see also:

[edit] External links

[edit] Photos

[edit] Scientific sites

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