What do you mean by noctilucent clouds?
Noctilucent clouds are the highest clouds in the Earth’s atmosphere, 83 km (50 miles) and are observed slightly below the mesopause in the polar summertime. These clouds are of special interest, as they are sensitive to both global climate change and to solar/terrestrial influences.
Why are noctilucent clouds blue?
The water in noctilucent clouds is either transported up into the mesosphere from the lower atmosphere, or forms when methane in the mesosphere breaks down by absorbing the sun’s rays. Ozone absorbs red light and allows blue light to pass through, which is why these clouds take on a striking blue colour.
What are noctilucent clouds made from?
Noctilucent clouds are composed of very small water ice crystals formed on minute particles of dust, possibly of cosmic origin from micrometeors.
How do you identify noctilucent clouds?
Because they are so high up, noctilucent clouds are illuminated by the Sun long after it has set for us at ground level, and we see them as blue-white swirls, curls and tendrils shining in the sky. That’s what their name means – ‘nocti’ (night) ‘lucent’ (shining). But NLCs only form when every thing comes together.
When can you see noctilucent clouds?
For best results, look for these clouds from about May through August in the Northern Hemisphere, and from November through February in the Southern Hemisphere. Noctilucent clouds are primarily visible when the sun is just below the horizon, say, from about 90 minutes to about two hours after sunset or before sunrise.
Where are noctilucent clouds found?
Noctilucent clouds are the highest clouds on Earth, and are located in the coldest part of planet Earth, the high-latitude summertime mesopause region (80–90 km). Composed of water-ice particles, they are nucleated by meteoric smoke particles.
Are noctilucent clouds rare?
Noctilucent clouds are extremely rare very high clouds seen in the night sky, usually on clear, summer nights. They become visible about the same time as the brightest stars and are usually bluish or silvery. Height of base: 200,000 feet.
When can I see noctilucent clouds?
How do you photograph noctilucent clouds?
Photographing noctilucent clouds using film Try to keep exposure times under 10 seconds for a standard or telephoto lens, and under 20 seconds for wide-angle lenses. I suggest using 400 or 800 ISO film, a shutter speed of 10 seconds, and f/ratio of 2.8 or 4.
When can you see noctilucent clouds UK?
What weather do noctilucent clouds bring?
What weather is associated with Noctilucent clouds? These clouds are far too high to have any effect on weather on the ground.
What are the different colors of noctilucent powder?
Noctilucent Powder is also called glow in dark pigment/ phosphorescent powder/luminous powder. Color: yellowish-green, red, orange… Application: widely used paint, resin, plastic, glass, ceramic, clothing, fabric, safety applications, auto and marine industry etc.
What makes a noctilucent cloud a night shining cloud?
Noctilucent clouds, or night shining clouds, are tenuous cloud -like phenomena in the upper atmosphere of Earth. They consist of ice crystals and are only visible during astronomical twilight.
How tall are noctilucent clouds in the atmosphere?
Noctilucent cloud. Night clouds or noctilucent clouds are composed of tiny crystals of water ice up to 100 nm in diameter and exist at a height of about 76 to 85 km (47 to 53 mi ), higher than any other clouds in Earth’s atmosphere. Clouds in the Earth’s lower atmosphere form when water collects on particles,…
When is the best time to see the noctilucent cloud?
Noctilucent cloud. They are very faint and tenuous, and may be observed only in twilight around sunrise and sunset when the clouds of the lower atmosphere are in shadow, but the noctilucent cloud is illuminated by the Sun. They are best seen when the Sun is between 6° and 16° below the horizon.