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Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: The Guardian
Context: Rare iridescent clouds, known as nacreous clouds, were spotted over parts of Scotland, northern England, and the West Midlands recently.
- The clouds, resembling mother of pearl, are known for their pastel light reflections during sunset and sunrise.
- This phenomenon occurs as sunlight diffracts around tiny ice crystals within the clouds, creating an effect similar to a thin layer of oil on water.
Nacreous clouds are rare in the UK and are usually seen when cold air from the polar vortex temporarily hovers over the region.
The mechanism behind iridescent clouds is diffraction, which occurs when small water droplets or small ice crystals scatter the sun’s light. Larger ice crystals do not produce iridescence but can cause halos.
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