A breathtaking iridescent cloud over Bogor, Indonesia, went viral last week. Residents of Jonggol captured the stunning display of colors in a video. This phenomenon is a type of cloud iridescence.
Key facts:
- Iridescent clouds occur when sunlight diffracts off ice crystals.
- The colors can change and quickly disappear.
- The phenomenon was confirmed by Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).
- Iridescent clouds can appear in hues of pink, green, and blue.
- The pileus cap provided the consistent droplets required for this case.
Ida Pramuwardani from BMKG stated, “The phenomenon seen in the video is a common occurrence in the atmosphere and is related to atmospheric optics.” The sighting sparked significant curiosity among locals.
Iridescent clouds have been documented since at least 1911. They can also be confused with nacreous clouds and coronae. Similar sightings have occurred in Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore in recent years.
