Rare Cloud Formation Seen In Antarctica
Polar winter produces nacreous clouds, -189 degree temperatures. Penguins from Rio (see previous post) express appreciation for spectacular salutation.
HOBART, Australia - Some of the coldest temperatures on Earth brought a rare cloud formation to the skies over Antarctica, scientists said Tuesday.
Meteorological officer Renae Baker captured spectacular images of the nacreous clouds, also known as polar stratospheric clouds, last week at Australia's Mawson station in Antarctica.
The clouds only occur at high polar latitudes in winter, requiring temperatures less than minus 176 Fahrenheit. A weather balloon measured temperatures at minus 189 Fahrenheit on the day the photos were taken. Resembling an airborne mother-of-pearl shell, the clouds are produced when fading light at sunset passes through water-ice crystals blown along a strong jet of stratospheric air more than six miles above the ground.
Meteorological officer Renae Baker captured spectacular images of the nacreous clouds, also known as polar stratospheric clouds, last week at Australia's Mawson station in Antarctica.
The clouds only occur at high polar latitudes in winter, requiring temperatures less than minus 176 Fahrenheit. A weather balloon measured temperatures at minus 189 Fahrenheit on the day the photos were taken. Resembling an airborne mother-of-pearl shell, the clouds are produced when fading light at sunset passes through water-ice crystals blown along a strong jet of stratospheric air more than six miles above the ground.
posted by FancyPants @ 9:20 AM
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