Négyzethullám

Négyzethullám refers to a rare atmospheric optical phenomenon that occurs when sunlight passes through ice crystals in the atmosphere at a precise angle. The word "négyzethullám" is Hungarian, translating to "square wave" or "square wave phenomenon," due to the shape of the light pattern it creates.

The négyzethullám appears as a series of regular, repeating patches of light and dark on the ground or in the air. It is usually seen in association with halos, another atmospheric phenomenon. The light patches are caused by the diffraction of sunlight through ice crystals, while the dark patches result from the absorption of light by the surrounding air.

Négyzethullám is relatively rare because it requires very specific atmospheric conditions, including the presence of small, uniform ice crystals and the precise angle of the sunlight. It is most commonly observed near thunderstorms or fronts, where high levels of water vapor and temperature fluctuations promote the formation of ice crystals.

The study of négyzethullám has contributed to our understanding of atmospheric optics and the behavior of light in complex media. It is an example of the many fascinating and complex natural phenomena that can be observed in the Earth's atmosphere.