Find Out Why This Beautiful Sky Phenomenon May Mean Bad News For The Earth
by N/A, 9 years ago |
1 min read
The Arctic circle may be especially dark and cold during the winter, but it sure knows how to put on a show.
Each winter, the sun abandons the Arctic Circle for several weeks, setting the perfect stage for Aurora Borealis and these - "polar stratospheric clouds."
Polar stratospheric clouds - or PSCs - are polar ice cap clouds that are just high enough in the atmosphere they're able to make direct contact with the sun's light. The light is then refracted by the high concentration of ice crystals, making them vibrant and prismatic.
The Norwegian city of Tromsø was treated to a view of PSCs last month, and they did not disappoint.
And while these polar stratospheric clouds may be breathtaking, they may be linked to the erosion of the Ozone.
It's speculated that they could serve as a conduit for destructive stratospheric chemical reactions.
Fortunately, polar stratospheric clouds are a rare sight, even in the Arctic Circle.
But their potentially destructive qualities most certainly don't take away from their stunning beauty.
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