Sun Dogs

Gopherboy6856 - Public Domain

Gopherboy6956 – Public Domain

Cloud of the Day – Sun Dogs

Many of the optical effects in meteorology, such as halos around the Sun and Moon, are the result of the way light interacts with ice crystals. Rainbows are a different matter. They’re the result of light reflecting back to you from inside water droplets. But sun dogs, parahelia in the argot, are caused by the refraction of sunlight (or moonlight) in tiny ice crystals high in the atmosphere.

Jud McCranie - CC-BY-SA

Jud McCranie – CC-BY-SA

Amble - CC-BY-SA

Amble – CC-BY-SA

Because light refracts about 22 degrees passing through ice, the sun dogs appear about 22 degrees on either side of the Sun (or Moon.) Because red light refracts the least and blue the most, sun dogs are redder closer to the source and bluer farther away. The Wikipedia article contains some interesting discussion of the etymology of the term.

The best time to see sun dogs is when a weather system is approaching. The first clouds to appear are the highest, cirrus. The form cirrostratus gives the best show, its thin, even layer of ice crystals creating a perfect canvas for the light.

Denali National Park and Preserve - CC-BY

Denali National Park and Preserve – CC-BY

All of the images are linked to their larger originals.

rjb


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About arjaybe

Jim has fought forest fires and controlled traffic in the air and on the sea. Now he writes stories.
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One Response to Sun Dogs

  1. Laird Smith says:

    That is interesting information about sun dogs. I’ve always wondered why they appear.

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