Verehüübed

Veréhübed are a unique and relatively rare phenomenon observed in certain high-altitude atmospheric conditions. They are essentially iridescent clouds that exhibit a striking display of vivid colors, often appearing as bands or patches of rainbow-like hues. These colors are not caused by water droplets like in a typical rainbow, but rather by the diffraction of sunlight through a multitude of very small, uniform ice crystals or water droplets suspended in the cloud.

The precise conditions required for veréhübed formation are specific. They typically occur in the upper troposphere, often associated with lenticular clouds or altocumulus clouds that are composed of supercooled water droplets or ice crystals with sizes around 10 micrometers. The uniformity of these particles is crucial; if the particles are too varied in size, the light will diffract in too many directions, and the colors will blend together, becoming less distinct. Sunlight must also strike these particles at a specific angle, usually when the sun is at a high altitude, typically above 20 degrees.

The colors observed in veréhübed can range from pastel shades to intense, saturated hues of red, green, blue, and violet. The order of colors is generally the same as in a rainbow, with red on the outside and violet on the inside, though the distinctness of each color can vary. Due to their ephemeral nature and the specific atmospheric conditions they require, veréhübed are not commonly seen and are often mistaken for other atmospheric optical phenomena. They are a beautiful testament to the complex interactions between light and atmospheric particles.