Tag Archives: clouds

Space

5 Things You Need To Check Before The 2024 Solar Eclipse

Imagine waiting to witness a rare celestial phenomenon, just for the view to be blocked by clouds. This has occurred so many occasions previously that it’s crucial that the placement you select for viewing the 2024 whole photo voltaic eclipse is completely cloud-free on the day.

While it’s inconceivable to foretell the climate with 100% certainty, it might be an important thought to confer with standard climate forecasting platforms to get a clearer thought of what to anticipate on eclipse day. Among the notable platforms that we may consider embody Windy, Pivotal Weather, and U.S. National Weather Service GOES Image Viewer.

That being stated, consultants have already indicated that the southern components of the U.S. have a better likelihood of being cloud-free through the eclipse. An interactive map created by The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) already exhibits the absolute best places to view the eclipse with the least chance of clouds obscuring the view.

As per the map, Texas, Oklahoma, and Southeast Missouri are the most effective places for a cloud-free eclipse-viewing expertise. However, you should still must depend on native climate situations on the day of the eclipse to make sure trouble-free viewing.

Once you may have homed in on a location of alternative, you will have to make sure that you make resort reservations prematurely. With lower than every week left for the eclipse, room availability in areas of totality could already be low.

Science

Nacreous Clouds Explained: How It Happens (And Where To See Them)

Nacreous clouds are unique clouds that form in the stratosphere at extremely low temperatures of around negative 85 degrees Celsius. These clouds occur when temperatures fall below the frost point in the stratosphere, creating ice crystals. They are typically found in higher latitudes and are characterized by their small particle size, which allows them to scatter light in a distinctive way, resulting in their iridescent or rainbow appearance.

According to the Meteorological Office of the UK, nacreous clouds usually form at elevations between 68,500 and 100,000 feet. During the day, they may appear similar to pale cirrus clouds, but they become truly spectacular during sunrise or sunset when the sun is 1-6 degrees below the horizon.

Nacreous clouds are a type of polar stratospheric cloud and are associated with freezing and dry weather. Scientists classify them into three types, la, lb, and ll, based on their chemical composition, ambient temperature, and elevation.