Painted clouds? B.C. residents treated to rare show of ‘cloud iridescence’

A beautiful optical phenomenon was spotted across the South Coast Tuesday afternoon as residents were treated to a show of clouds streaked with rainbow colours. Global BC senior meteorologist Kristi Gordon said this is called “ cloud iridescence, ” which is similar to a typical rainbow, but not quite the same. Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.

“These less common rainbows look like they’re painted on the clouds,” Gordon said. “The reason is the sun’s light is getting diffracted or bent by the water droplets or ice crystals in the clouds. This diffraction causes the sun’s light to separate into its individual colours.

” Trending Now Canadian mortgage renewals will weigh on economic growth: Deloitte No charges in deadly Manitoba bus crash: RCMP Gordon described the colours in the cloud iridescence as vivid. For this to occur, the water droplets in the clouds must be a uniform size, which causes a more efficient diffraction of the light, she said..

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