Amazing and mysterious cloud formations, known as nacreous clouds, have surprised the UK, decorating the skies over Scotland, northern England, and the West Midlands. Social media was abuzz with comparisons to UFO sightings and awe at their ethereal beauty. Nacreous clouds, resembling pearls, typically occur only over polar regions where the air is extremely cold. However, these rare clouds unexpectedly appeared over various locations in the UK on Tuesday.
One characteristic feature of these clouds is the incredible pastel light they reflect after sunset and before sunrise. This is due to the scattering of sunlight around the tiny ice crystals contained within the clouds, creating a breathtaking phenomenon reminiscent of a delicate layer of oil on water. The occurrence of nacreous clouds in the UK is highly unusual and usually limited to Scandinavia, northern Canada, and northern Russia.
The Met Office explains that the appearance of these clouds requires the displacement of cold air circulating around the polar regions, known as the polar vortex, which temporarily immobilizes over the UK. It is emphasized that although these distinctive cloud formations are generally rare in the UK, they can occur under certain circumstances.
In stark contrast to this celestial spectacle, the Met Office predicts the arrival of strong winds in the northern half of the UK, with the possibility of travel disruptions and power outages on Thursday.
FAQ:
1. What are nacreous clouds?
Nacreous clouds are unusual cloud formations that resemble pearls. They typically occur over polar regions where the air is very cold.
2. Why is the occurrence of nacreous clouds in the UK unusual?
Nacreous clouds are rarely seen in the UK and usually occur only over Scandinavia, northern Canada, and northern Russia.
Source: Met Office (www.metoffice.gov.uk)
The source of the article is from the blog radardovalemg.com