UK Weather: Polar Stratospheric Clouds, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, 21st December, 2023, Credit:DEW/Alamy Live News
Normally, polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) are confined inside the Arctic Circle. Only above the poles can the stratosphere become cold enough to create these rare clouds. However, during this week's outbreak of PSCs, the clouds have spilled out of the Arctic to places they are seldom seen. This photo was taken in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Widely considered to be the most beautiful clouds on Earth, polar stratospheric clouds are a sign of extreme cold. PSCs form when the temperature in the Arctic stratosphere drops to a staggeringly-low -85 C. Then, and only then, can widely-spaced water molecules in the dry stratosphere coalesce into tiny ice crystals. High-altitude sunlight shining through the crystals creates intense iridescent colors that rival auroras.
Size: 6000px × 4000px
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Photo credit: © DEW / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: arctic, circle, clouds, crystals, ice, newcastle, polar, solstice, stratospheric, tyne
