Ryan Verwest's image is January's Cloud of the Month
January 5, 2012
In
Cloud of the Month
January 2012
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.
Hanne Ingerslev
January 7, 2012at12:20 amRarely have I seen anything as beautiful! The composition of the photo is perfect and the effects unique. What nature and man can do together!!!
dianne
January 7, 2012at1:11 amGorgeous!
Junetta Gillespie
January 9, 2012at11:37 pmI 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.
Margi Rawlinson
January 11, 2012at11:22 amThis is just stunning. The iridescence of the cloud on the left is so magical. Thank you for sharing this. x
Helen
January 12, 2012at5:27 pmMagnificent!
christine
January 15, 2012at8:06 pmOl’ 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.
Cloud Dirt
January 16, 2012at1:08 pmI Appreciate this.
Jon Hearn
January 27, 2012at12:16 amWhat a magnificent picture!
Mave Howarth
March 4, 2012at3:58 pmthis is just superb, thank you Ryan
Jeanne Levoir
February 2, 2013at9:10 amStunning, simply stunning.
ciaron x
July 4, 2013at2:32 pmthis is so sad hahahahaha
MR PLEASANT
August 19, 2013at8:46 pmStunning photo ! the cloud in the foreground looks like an alien space-craft ???