An
Unusually Rare Sunset
By
Kay
H.
Seaview gently surfaces and rocks on the waves of a
beautiful aquamarine
sea.
“Admiral
I’m glad you decided to surface for a few minutes even if the air is cold and
frigid after spending the last 2 weeks
under the polar ice caps.” Lee says with
a sigh.
Chip
says, “Are you sure Lee? I thought that
you hated the frigidly cold weather,”
“Yes
Chip, but I think that the crew would like to enjoy a few minutes of fresh air and
this is a breath taking view. Admiral I have never seen this type of sunset, is it unusual? “
“Yes,
Lee this rare
cloud formation is caused by some of the coldest temperatures on Earth. The
clouds only occur at high polar latitudes in winter, requiring temperatures
less than minus 176 Fahrenheit. You have to be in the right part of the world
in winter, and have the sun just below your horizon to see them. This is spectacular images of the
nacreous clouds, also known as polar stratospheric clouds.”
Later
after the Seaview has dived and everyone had removed their Artic gear. Lee, Chip, Jamie and the Admiral settled in
the nose with hot chocolate and coffee.
“Admiral
what actually caused the clouds to appear shaped like an airborne
mother-of-pearl shell?”
“Well
Lee 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. These clouds are
seldom seen, but are occasionally produced by air passing over polar mountains.”
“Lee
now aren’t you glad that we surfaced, even though you
hate artic weather?” ’asked Chip.
Lee
laughs. “Yes Chip especially since it not often that we have a chance to
observe a breathtakingly rare phenomena.”
This story was
inspired by a photo and AP story from
Thanks to Sue
for the suggestions
and changes she made, they were greatly appreciated.
|
Renae Baker / Australian Antarctica Division via Reuters Rare mother-of-pearl colored clouds caused by extreme weather conditions are seen above Australia's meteorological base in Antarctica, July 25.