Rare Cloud Formation Seen In Antarctica

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by [.BC.] bsk84091, Aug 3, 2006.

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  1. Aug 3, 2006 at 5:03 PM #1
    [.BC.] bsk84091

    [.BC.] bsk84091 Well-Known Member

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    Pictures are here

    HOBART, Australia - Some of the coldest temperatures on Earth brought a rare cloud formation to the skies over Antarctica, scientists said Tuesday.

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    Meteorological officer Renae Baker captured spectacular images of the nacreous clouds, also known as polar stratospheric clouds, last week at Australia's Mawson station in Antarctica.

    The clouds only occur at high polar latitudes in winter, requiring temperatures less than minus 176 degrees Fahrenheit. A weather balloon measured temperatures at minus 189 degrees Fahrenheit on the day the photos were taken.

    Resembling airborne mother-of-pearl shells, the clouds are produced when fading light at sunset passes through water-ice crystals blown along a strong jet of stratospheric air more than six miles above the ground.

    "Amazingly, the winds at this height were blowing at nearly 230 kilometers (143 miles) per hour," Baker said on the Australian government's Antarctic Division's Web site.

    Australian Antarctic Division atmospheric scientist Andrew Klekociuk said the clouds are seldom seen, but are occasionally produced by air passing over polar mountains.

    "You have to be in the right part of the world in winter, and have the sun just below your horizon to see them," he said.

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    All information was found here and theres a pic too

    Yahoo article

    how insane can this be
     
  2. Aug 3, 2006 at 5:06 PM #2
    TripleX

    TripleX Well-Known Member

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    That looks really cool, going to read about it now. ;)


    -Virus
     
  3. Aug 3, 2006 at 5:06 PM #3
    YoungGunna22

    YoungGunna22 Well-Known Member

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    photoshoped?
     
  4. Aug 3, 2006 at 5:30 PM #4
    zero2000

    zero2000 Well-Known Member

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    Hmm thats pretty cool.
     
  5. Aug 3, 2006 at 5:30 PM #5
    Ninjonics

    Ninjonics Well-Known Member

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    Those clouds look cool, but I'm too lazy to read about them right now :P.
     
  6. Aug 3, 2006 at 5:38 PM #6
    Zaoris

    Zaoris Well-Known Member

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    that's very interesting,i heard about something like that before,on australia again.
    i'm wondering what causes the wind to create them,it must a zone-thing where wind gets different.
     
  7. Aug 3, 2006 at 5:39 PM #7
    hobomonkeyc

    hobomonkeyc Well-Known Member

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    its on yahoo, thats a credible source...
     
  8. Aug 3, 2006 at 5:42 PM #8
    Undertow

    Undertow Senior Member

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    very interesting
    i wouldnt mind seeing those for myself
     
  9. Aug 3, 2006 at 6:19 PM #9
    Greasy Pete

    Greasy Pete Senior Member

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    never seen that before
     
  10. Aug 3, 2006 at 6:53 PM #10
    SM RxBandits

    SM RxBandits Senior Member

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    cool sky
     
  11. Aug 3, 2006 at 8:29 PM #11
    vulcan

    vulcan Well-Known Member

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  12. Aug 3, 2006 at 9:04 PM #12
    [.BC.] bsk84091

    [.BC.] bsk84091 Well-Known Member

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    yea it cought my eye i was like woah thats awsome
     
  13. Aug 3, 2006 at 9:53 PM #13
    xboxhockey88

    xboxhockey88 Well-Known Member

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    thats crazy
     
  14. Aug 3, 2006 at 10:35 PM #14
    Charlie S

    Charlie S Well-Known Member

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    Those are really interesting, it doesn't even look real.
     
  15. Aug 3, 2006 at 10:36 PM #15
    ~POetIKal~

    ~POetIKal~ Well-Known Member

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    but yet, they are lol
     
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