Weather Dictionary / Glossary of Terms

Iridescent Clouds


   Weather TermDescription / Definition
   Iridescent Clouds Clouds that exhibit brilliant bright spots, bands, or borders of colors, usually red and green, observed up to about 30 degrees from the sun. The coloration is due to the diffraction with small cloud particles producing the effect. It is usually seen in thin cirrostratus, cirrocumulus, and altocumulus clouds.


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Data courtesy of NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration