Amazing Nacreous clouds over Aberdeenshire, Peterhead 29.01
Known as nacreous clouds or mother-of-pearl clouds, they are rare. This northern winter season they have been making unforgettable appearances at high latitudes, though.
Nacreous clouds are rare and very high clouds, known mainly for the coloured light they reflect after sunset and before sunrise. The colours are reminiscent of the colours which reflect from a thin layer of oil on top of water, an effect known as iridescence.
They are most common in Antarctica, but have also been observed in the Arctic, Scotland, Scandinavia, Alaska and Canada. On rare occasions, they have been reported in other parts of Northern Europe.
Nacreous clouds are often lenticular wave clouds and thus are found downwind of mountain ranges that induce gravity waves in the stratosphere.
Their formation may also be associated with severe tropospheric storms.
Thanks for the great pics Steven, April, Mhairi, William, Emma, Endija and Julija
