Colorful cloud iridescence or irisation in Patagonia. El Chalten, Argentina, South America.

Cloud iridescence or irisation is a colorful optical phenomenon that occurs in a cloud and appears in the general proximity of the Sun or Moon. The colors resemble those seen in soap bubbles and oil on a water surface. This fairly common phenomenon is most often observed in altocumulus, cirrocumulus, lenticular, and cirrus clouds.They sometimes appear as bands parallel to the edge of the clouds. The colors are usually pastel, but can be very vivid or mingled together, sometimes similar to mother-of-pearl. When appearing near the Sun, the effect can be drowned in the Sun's glare, which may be overcome by shielding sunlight with one's hand or behind a tree or building or dark glasses, or observing the sky reflected in a pool of water. Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina, Patagonia, South America.

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Filename: 2002PAT-3185.jpg
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Cloud iridescence or irisation is a colorful optical phenomenon that occurs in a cloud and appears in the general proximity of the Sun or Moon. The colors resemble those seen in soap bubbles and oil on a water surface. This fairly common phenomenon is most often observed in altocumulus, cirrocumulus, lenticular, and cirrus clouds.They sometimes appear as bands parallel to the edge of the clouds. The colors are usually pastel, but can be very vivid or mingled together, sometimes similar to mother-of-pearl. When appearing near the Sun, the effect can be drowned in the Sun's glare, which may be overcome by shielding sunlight with one's hand or behind a tree or building or dark glasses, or observing the sky reflected in a pool of water. Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina, Patagonia, South America.