It is a spectacular and rare phenomenon. An iridescent cloud was seen in the sky over the southern Chinese city of Haikou last Sunday. The images, posted on social networks by witnesses, show this impressive cloud with the colors of the rainbow.
As Météo-France explains on its site, this phenomenon is “linked to the diffraction of light rays on particles suspended on the surface of clouds”. Diffraction is what happens when light rays from the sun bend and hit the edges of an opaque body.
“The cloud then acquires pearly hues, often pink or green with pastel shades,” details the meteorological institute.
Iridescence occurs primarily in clouds such as cirrocumulus and altocumulus, but also with additional clouds such as veil and pileus. The iridescences “intertwine or take on the appearance of bands substantially parallel to cloud contours,” adds Météo-France.
Source: BFM TV
