2024-06-13 Noctilucent Clouds (1)
Noctilucent clouds occur high in the Earth's atmosphere in the mesosphere around 80 kilometers (50 miles) above the surface. Characterized by their thin, wispy appearance and their ability to glow with a blue or silvery hue at night, they are most commonly observed during summer twilight hours when the Sun is below the horizon but still illuminating them from below.
Their appearance is due to the extreme cold temperatures in the mesosphere during the summer months, which allow ice crystals to form on suspended dust particles floating in the atmosphere. These ice crystals reflect sunlight when hit from below, causing the clouds to glow. The dust particles may originate from various sources, including micrometeorites falling to Earth from space, volcanic eruptions, or even human activities such as rocket launches.
Recent studies using NASA's AIM satellite data have shown that noctilucent clouds are becoming more frequent due to climate change, specifically due to increasing methane emissions.
I spent a happy hour or so out watching the display gradually evolve, starting to the right but then the regular tropospheric clouds began to dissipate to the left, leaving some interesting interwined weave structures in red/orange amongst the electric blue.
Their appearance is due to the extreme cold temperatures in the mesosphere during the summer months, which allow ice crystals to form on suspended dust particles floating in the atmosphere. These ice crystals reflect sunlight when hit from below, causing the clouds to glow. The dust particles may originate from various sources, including micrometeorites falling to Earth from space, volcanic eruptions, or even human activities such as rocket launches.
Recent studies using NASA's AIM satellite data have shown that noctilucent clouds are becoming more frequent due to climate change, specifically due to increasing methane emissions.
I spent a happy hour or so out watching the display gradually evolve, starting to the right but then the regular tropospheric clouds began to dissipate to the left, leaving some interesting interwined weave structures in red/orange amongst the electric blue.
Related Images
4 abstract-qualities achievement affection after-dark airy amazement arc art atmospheric atmospheric-optics atop awe balance beautiful blur calm calm-still camera centred clouds cold colour colourful complexity composite composition conflict contrasts curves dark dramatic dreamy dxo-photolab dynamic eerie elegance emotion equipment existentialist favourite filaments fleeting flowing frozen fuji fuji-23mm-f1 fuji-x-h2 glowing good-bad harmony horizon ice idyll innocence jumble landscape lens light light-and-dark lines loose-composition luminar-neo manipulated mankind-nature melancholy moody movement nature nature-happens night night-sky night-toned nightscape nlc noctilucent-clouds noctilucent-clouds-nlc nocturnal-landscape numinous oddity panorama peace phenomena photography proportion pure quiet raw relaxed saturated shape-and-form shapely sky sky-earth skylum skyscape slow-fast soft-light software space space-filling states-of-water striking structure sumptuous sunlight swirl tendrils thereal thoughtful toned tranquil transience turbulence twilight vibrant vista warm-cold warm-cool zenExif
| Camera: | FUJIFILM X-H2 | ISO: | 640 |
| Focal Length: | 23mm (35mm-e) | Aperture: | f/2.2 |
| Shutter Speed: | 1s |
Location
GPS location: 56.302149, -3.704617