High in the atmosphere, clouds occasionally reveal a subtle, shimmering display of colours that has fascinated observers for centuries. This phenomenon, known as cloud iridescence or irisation, produces pale greens, pinks, blues, and purples along the edges of clouds, often creating ephemeral patterns that appear almost painterly.
Noctilucent clouds, also called night-shining clouds, are the highest clouds in the Earth’s atmosphere, forming in the mesosphere at altitudes of approximately 76 to 85 kilometres. They are primarily composed of ice crystals.
Nacreous clouds, also known as polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs), are high-altitude clouds that form in the stratosphere, typically between 15,000 and 25,000 metres above the surface. They are most commonly observed in polar regions during winter months