Cloud iridescence

Cloud iridescence or irisation is a colorful optical phenomenon that occurs in a cloud and appears in the general proximity of the Sun or Moon. The colors resemble those seen in soap bubbles and oil on a water surface. It is a type of photometeor. This fairly common phenomenon is most often observed in altocumulus,^[1] cirrocumulus, lenticular,^[2] and cirrus clouds.^[3]^[4]^[5] They sometimes appear as bands parallel to the edge of the clouds. Iridescence is also seen in the much rarer polar stratospheric clouds, also called nacreous clouds.^[6]

The colors are usually pastel, but can be very vivid or mingled together, sometimes similar to mother-of-pearl.^[7] When appearing near the Sun, the effect can be difficult to spot as it is drowned in the Sun's glare. This may be overcome by shielding the sunlight with one's hand or hiding it behind a tree or building. Other aids are dark glasses, or observing the sky reflected in a convex mirror or in a pool of water.

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Etymology

Irisations are named after the Greek goddess Iris, goddess of rainbows and messenger of Zeus and Hera to the mortals below.^[8]

Mechanism

Iridescent clouds are a diffraction phenomenon caused by small water droplets or small ice crystals individually scattering light. Larger ice crystals do not produce iridescence, but can cause halos, a different phenomenon.^[9]

Irisation is caused by very uniform water droplets diffracting light (within 10 degrees from the Sun) and by first order interference effects^[10] (beyond about 10 degrees from the Sun). It can extend up to 40 degrees from the Sun.^[11]

If parts of clouds contain small water droplets or ice crystals of similar size, their cumulative effect is seen as colors. The cloud must be optically thin, so that most rays encounter only a single droplet. Iridescence is therefore mostly seen at cloud edges or in semi-transparent clouds, while newly forming clouds produce the brightest and most colorful iridescence. When the particles in a thin cloud are very similar in size over a large extent, the iridescence takes on the structured form of a corona, a bright circular disk around the Sun or Moon surrounded by one or more colored rings.^[9]^[12]^[13]

Gallery

Irisation in clouds over Wellington NZ
Irisation or iridescence in super-cooled cloud droplets in cirrocumulus clouds.
Irisation in cirrus (or maybe cirrocumulus) clouds behind Stratocumulus (bottom), in the afternoon over Warsaw, Poland.
Vibrant cloud iridescence captured before sunset
Iridescent clouds seen in Tenerife
Parker Canyon, AZ. Aug 6th, 2022