22 degree circular sun halo caused by sunlight refraction in ice crystals in high cirrus clouds. Scotland, UK
Sun halos are caused by refraction of sunlight passing through ice crystals in high cirrus clouds. Sunlight passing between their faces is refracted and reflected to send shafts of light in particular directions. Regardless of their overall proportions, all ice crystals have identical interfacial angles. It is this constancy which gives regular and predictable halos and the constancy comes from a deeper order at a molecular scale. In ice, individual water molecules are linked together and arranged in a regular lattice.
Size: 5120px × 3426px
Location: Scotland, UK
Photo credit: © Vincent Lowe / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 22, 22º, circle, circular, cirrus, cloud, clouds, crystals, degree, europe, halo, ice, radius, rainbow, refracting, refraction, scotland, sky, sun, uk
