Mysterious Medley of Clouds Display Rainbow Spotted Over City in China

Over a city in China, a medley of different kinds of clouds came together, creating a vibrant rainbow halo display.

A "rainbow cloud" that appeared over a Chinese city like some sort of extraterrestrial phenomenon stunned the internet. Over 28 million people watched a video of the meteorological anomaly while curious about what might have caused it.

The magnificent circle was seen hovering above a dark cloud in the stirring video, which was captured in Haikou city, Hainan, about a week ago.

A pileus cloud, also known as a scarf cloud, is a smooth cloud that develops on top of a cumulus cloud, which is a dense, puffy, and white cloud caused by updrafts from one thunderstorm.

Started with Sprinkles

The Weather Network explained that the moisture condenses right along the upper side of the updraft as a result of the rapidly rising air in the towering cumulus pushing against the cold air above it. The outcome is a majestic pileus wearing the cloud next to it as a cap.

In contrast, the rainbow halo is a type of atmospheric optic known as cloud iridescence. Jen Carfagno, a meteorologist from The Weather Channel, explained that this happens when ice crystals or water droplets in the cloud diffract light around their exteriors rather than bending it through them.

She also clarified that, unlike in a rainbow, the colors of the spectrum in iridescence are not as neatly arranged. Later, the meteorologist remarked that the iridescence of clouds makes her think of unicorn sprinkles or pixie dust.

The rainbow cloud display stunned the internet into awe.

According to a Twitter user, the rainbow halo was a genuine atmospheric occurrence. He continued by saying that Mother Nature is amazing and that it is as unbelievable as it seems.

One Twitter user joked that China had built a portal to another dimension, and another postulated that a "flying spaghetti monster god" was to blame for the flamboyant-appearing fog.

Read also: Skies Turned Orange as Dust Storm from Sahara Spreads to Spain, Across Europe 

Fire Rainbow

A "fire rainbow," a rare meteorological occurrence, emerged in 2019 over the Jersey Shore, giving beachgoers an amazing sight. This phenomenon is also sometimes seen closer to home.

The fiery phenomenon is caused by light being refracted as it travels through thin, wispy cirrus clouds.

Dave Samuhel, a senior meteorologist for AccuWeather, said that these are made entirely of ice crystals and can only form in high cirrus clouds. However, because of the higher sun angle in the summer, they can be seen further north. They are 46 degrees away from the sun, which is roughly twice as far as the more common halo, which is 22 degrees away, New York Post reports.

Cloud Iridescence

Cloud iridescence typically occurs in lenticular, cirrus, altocumulus, and cirrocumulus clouds. Diffraction, a phenomenon that happens when tiny water droplets or tiny ice crystals disperse the sun's light, is what causes iridescent clouds.

Iridescence in clouds is not very common. The cloud must be small and dense with roughly the same-sized water or ice crystals. The sun's rays only come into contact with a few droplets at a time when that occurs. Iridescence is therefore most likely to be present in semi-transparent clouds or newly forming clouds.

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