|
meteoptic-l [ät] ursa.fi
message archive
This is meteoptic-l [ät] ursa.fi message archive.
Note, your can reply the messages on this page only if your
are already subscribed the list.
» To the end of the list/message
Hi Bev,
Sundogs can give a couple of different appearances.
The most common one is where you can plainly see a bright spot
and an arc which is part of a larger circle that is centered on the sun.
The second appearance occurs when the 'sun dog' is formed on a
cloud that is much closer to the observer. In this case the 'rainbow' is
spread out 'across' the cloud. Because of this the normal uniform
thickness
of the color bands becomes distorted - some seem longer and smeared out.
Some people refer to this as a 'rainbow cloud'. I've only observed this a
handful
of times in 20 years of looking. It is very beautiful. I've also never
found a picture
in any book that really matches it - perhaps now I should pick up
Greenlers
book....
It is possible that my description of the 'second appearance' listed
doesn't get the
mechanism correct - but I think it's pretty close. If anyone knows
differently, please enlighten me!
Chuck
|