Iridescent Lenticular clouds over Mount Rainier
This month’s image shows the beautiful effect that can result from the sunlight shining through thin parts of a cloud where the tiny droplets or ice crystals all have similar sizes. The sunlight can be ‘diffracted’ as it passes around the miniscule particles. The result is that it is split into different wavelengths, which appear as the colours of the rainbow. This optical effect is called iridescence or irisation and tends to appear at the fringes of clouds. This fantastic example, captured by Ryan Verwest, shows iridescence in lenticular clouds, and was spotted over Mount Rainier, Washington, US.
Photograph © Ryan Verwest.
Stunning photo ! the cloud in the foreground looks like an alien space-craft ???
this is so sad hahahahaha
Stunning, simply stunning.
this is just superb, thank you Ryan
What a magnificent picture!
I Appreciate this.
Ol’ fat fingers here hit 4 stars instead of the intended 5! That said, excellent photo. #Hanne Ingerslev–I couldn’t agree more. What nature and man can do together!
The iridescent cloud on the left inspires such whimsy and magic. So inspiring! Thank you, Ryan.
Magnificent!
This is just stunning. The iridescence of the cloud on the left is so magical. Thank you for sharing this. x
I thought I saw a “Lenny” here, but I must have been a bit creative about the sighting. We are near the top of a glacial moraine, but as for mountains, alas ….. This beautiful picture has at least made me dust off the old camera. We have a clear view to the south of the sky, and often the clouds are beautiful. The sky is the greatest beauty of this part of Illinois.
Gorgeous!
Rarely have I seen anything as beautiful! The composition of the photo is perfect and the effects unique. What nature and man can do together!!!