The halo is an optical phenomenon of nature

Amazing and multifaceted nature is not only the diversity of its flora and fauna, but also unusual, unique and fantastic phenomena. The origin of most of them is scientifically explainable. The optical phenomenon of the halo is one of them.

In ancient times, halo, as well as other unexplained celestial phenomena, people attributed the mystical meanings of evil omens (especially for the halo of a cross-shaped form or for twins of luminaries). For example, in the "Lay of Igor's Campaign," it is said that just before the arrival of the Polovtsians and the capture of the prince, "the four suns shone over the Russian land." It was at that time perceived as a sign of the arrival of a great disaster.

Amazing in nature

There are many phenomena, the origin of which is not entirely clear to ordinary people. Below is a brief description of several of the most common ones.

Northern Lights - a glow that occurs when the upper atmosphere interacts with solar charged particles. Such a fantastic phenomenon can be found mainly in latitudes, located closer to the poles.

Falling stars (luminous, glancing across the sky points) are small stones or particles of cosmic substances. This sight can be observed at night. A bright flash occurs when these pieces invade the earth's atmosphere. In certain periods you can see and abundant enchanting "star rain."

Ball lightning - one of the not entirely understandable mysterious phenomena. In addition to the shape of the ball, this lightning can acquire the shape of a pear, a drop or a mushroom. Its dimensions range from 5 cm to several meters. This phenomenon is characterized by a rather unpredictable behavior and its short duration (several seconds).

Also in nature, such processes as the optical halo phenomenon, the formation of pearlescent and biconvex clouds (extremely rare) and even precipitation with living creatures (frog and fish rains) can occur.

What is a halo?

The halo is the most common optical phenomenon in the atmosphere, during which there appear in the sky luminous circles around the heavenly bodies, "false suns", various pillars and crosses.

In most cases, it is an ordinary light circle. At mid-latitudes, it can appear for several days.

The appearance of the halo, unlike other processes, has a scientific justification.

The formation of an amazing light circle around the sun is explained by the fact that the rays of the sun are refracted in the faces of ice crystals contained in clouds and fogs. There are solar halo and moonlight.

Variety of forms and species

In general, the halo is a certain group of phenomena in the atmosphere, namely, optical ones.

The most common forms of halo, as noted above, are the following:

• Iridescent circles behind the circumference of the disk of the Moon or the Sun with an angular radius of 22 ° and 46 °;
• "False Sun" (parghelia) or simply bright spots (also iridescent) on both sides of the stars at distances of 22 ° and 46 °;
• Circumscribed arcs;
• Pargelic circles (white horizontal) that pass through the disk of the Sun;
• Posts (vertical parts of a white circle); They form a white cross in combination with the pargelic circles.

Iridescent halos are formed when the rays are refracted, and whites are formed when they are reflected.

Halo phenomenon is sometimes confused with crowns. They are very similar in appearance, but the latter have a different origin - diffraction.

Description of the circle, variety

Usually halos arise in the form of rings around the Sun. And the inner side of the ring is bright and colored in a slightly reddish color.

Then the color gradually turns into light yellow, then into greenish and even blue-violet, closer to the outer part of the circle.

Sometimes the circle is not completely visible, but only its part (most often the upper one).

There are also light arcs that touch the upper or lower part of the light circle.

Rarely does a colorless circle appear that extends through the disk of the moon or sun parallel to the horizon. And at the points of intersection of this circle with the halo, bright spots are often seen - these are "false suns". They are so luminous and bright that they very much resemble the second sun.

The pillars and crosses, the nature of their origin

Halo - the phenomenon of nature is phenomenal, acquiring the most bizarre forms. They are visible when there are light cirrus clouds between the observing person and the luminous planets , high, or when the ice crystals are in the suspended state as separate elements having the correct shape (for example, in the form of a hexagonal prism).

Often there is a halo in the form of a vertical column, when the planets that illuminate the Earth are very close to the horizon (above or below it). Such shapes are explained by the reflection of the rays from the horizontal faces of the crystals of ice cubes that are in the air. On two sides of the sun you can sometimes see two such pillars. They are part of the arc of the halo, when only a circle is partially visible.

It also happens that the poles may intersect with the horizontal circle. In this case, the light of the cross may also appear to the eye of a person.

The phenomena of the halo are very diverse. This is explained by the huge number of forms of ice crystals and their most varied arrangement in the air.

What are the halo phenomena talking about? Omens

The appearance of various types and forms can tell about the changes in the weather in the next few hours.

The appearance of a complete rainbow circle (sometimes almost invisible) near the sun or the moon, which arises in the presence of pinnate layered clouds in the atmosphere, is most often a sign of the approach of a warm front, a cyclone. It is expected that windy weather will come about 12-20 hours later. The brightness of the radiance of the circle weakens only when clouds begin to thicken strongly.

There are no rainbow colors, white circles around the Sun (the Moon), "false suns," pillars. In clear weather, such optical bodies arise. This phenomenon indicates the further stability and preservation of quiet and sunny weather, and in winter - on strong long frosts.

Circles near the stars in the form of a partial ring appear in unstable air masses, in areas of anticyclones (peripheral and rear). This means that one should expect a variable weather, with strong winds and rainfall.

Large diameter white circles visible at an angle of 92 ° near the Sun or the Moon, which occur precisely in winter, are signs of the presence of a powerful anticyclone or high-pressure region near this territory. In such cases, one can expect the weather to be fairly stable, with weak winds and with severe frosts.

Many natural phenomena do not lend themselves to any scientifically justified theories and explanations. People can only admire the beautiful seen.

Halo is an explicable and colorful natural phenomenon.