A collection of bizarre natural phenomena that are as lovely as they are strange.
Dirty Thunderstorm
A dirty thunderstorm is a weather phenomenon that occurs when lightning is produced in a volcanic plume.
Brinicles
A Brinicle, or sea stalactite, is an ice formation that forms beneath sea ice when a flow of extremely cold, saline water is introduced to an area of warmer ocean water. They often leave a trail of deadly destruction in their wake. (see video)
Frozen Methane Bubbles
Frozen air bubbles in Abraham Lake in the North Saskatchewan River. Plants on the lake bed release methane gas and the methane freezes as it approaches the surface. The bubbles continue to stack up below those bubbles frozen above them.
Fire Tornado
Because normal tornadoes don't create enough destruction, we really need tornadoes made of fire.
Fire Rainbows
The proper term for it is circumhorizontal arc and it's actually an optical phenomena caused by an ice-halo formed by ice crystals in high level cirrus clouds. (Thought we'd end on a lovely, less deadly note.)
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WOW! These pictures (and clips) are incredible. You sure they aren't CGI?! Thanks for sharing, Kris! :)
ReplyDeletePretty wild, huh? And as for CGI, here's hoping the BBC didn't orchestrate the great Brinicle hoax. ;)
DeleteThese are so amazing! I especially loved the one about the frozen methane bubbles and not only because my city is along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River (same river, just the southern end). I'd never even heard of this before! It makes sense though because it can get incredibly cold very, very quickly in northern Canada. Thanks for sharing these!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like them! I actually thought of you when I posted the methane bubbles one. I don't know many other writers who live near the Saskatchewan. :) It is a very cool phenomenon though, isn't it?
DeleteWHOA...WOW! And here I was, thinking thundersnow is scary (sounding at least). But I'll take that over a dirty thunderstorm any day! And a fire tornado??? Crazy how something so deadly can also be so visually stunning.
ReplyDeleteThundersnow is an awesome sounding name. Perhaps that should be your superhero power. :)
DeleteAnd yes, deadly and stunning- Nature constantly amazes me.
This is very helpful and informative website about water and environment related studies for all sectors of people all over the world.
ReplyDelete