Weird weather phenomena
- last year
In this video we take a look at the science behind 5 of the weirdest weather phenomena.
Willy willy_
Also known as dust devils, Willy willys are whirlwinds that can reach over 1000 feet in height. It is the dust and debris that get caught within them that makes them visible. They mainly occur in desert and semi-arid areas, where the ground is dry and high surface temperatures produce strong updrafts. In Navajo culture, willy-willy were thought to be the ghosts or spirits of the dead
Brocken spectre_
A Brocken spectre is the large magnified shadow of an observer, cast onto clouds or mist. They are most often seen on mountain tops, when a person stands above cloud level.
They can create the illusion of a giant shadowy figure seen dimly through the mist.
Shifting water droplets in the cloud or mist can also make the shadow appear to move.
Often the spectre will be combined with a circular ‘glory’, appearing as a rainbow halo around the shadow’s head.
Lenticular clouds_
Usually formed behind hills or mountains, where the air is stable and winds at different heights are blowing from a similar direction. The wind is interrupted, the airflow undulates and condenses into these disc-shaped clouds. They can sometimes be seen as far as 60 miles downwind of the mountains that formed them. They are also believed to be one of the most common explanations for UFO sightings.
Aurora_
Visible in the sky in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, usually near the poles, auroras are mysterious and beautiful natural light shows. They are caused by collisions between electrically charged particles released from the sun and gas molecules such as oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth’s atmosphere. Many cultures have myths relating to aurora - In Finland it was believed that the lights were caused by the firefox, who ran so quickly across the snow that his tail caused sparks to fly into the night sky.
Video Credits*
Willy willy_
Hayley Steele - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJbgOcPRjtk
James King - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swex8cPMnGY
Brocken Spectre_
Michael Elcock - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m0zC_ivmw8
to2400km - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WW5BtklhFk
Lenticular clouds_
GenePoolChlorine - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfT1bjvfi1U
Ronan O Keeffe - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCMi9cxvlV8
Bazmo75 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRYBSMNR5RM
Aurora_
Alf Pilz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLXkZU86YvE
Thomas Sjoen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1qvxoGPtiY
Nasa.gov https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWJIfjzM2AI
Haboob_
Chuck Reynolds - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFfMbzqW17w
Rhirwin10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKBJbKXiJ0w
Chance Houston - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQMJ6qwoQpw
Willy willy_
Also known as dust devils, Willy willys are whirlwinds that can reach over 1000 feet in height. It is the dust and debris that get caught within them that makes them visible. They mainly occur in desert and semi-arid areas, where the ground is dry and high surface temperatures produce strong updrafts. In Navajo culture, willy-willy were thought to be the ghosts or spirits of the dead
Brocken spectre_
A Brocken spectre is the large magnified shadow of an observer, cast onto clouds or mist. They are most often seen on mountain tops, when a person stands above cloud level.
They can create the illusion of a giant shadowy figure seen dimly through the mist.
Shifting water droplets in the cloud or mist can also make the shadow appear to move.
Often the spectre will be combined with a circular ‘glory’, appearing as a rainbow halo around the shadow’s head.
Lenticular clouds_
Usually formed behind hills or mountains, where the air is stable and winds at different heights are blowing from a similar direction. The wind is interrupted, the airflow undulates and condenses into these disc-shaped clouds. They can sometimes be seen as far as 60 miles downwind of the mountains that formed them. They are also believed to be one of the most common explanations for UFO sightings.
Aurora_
Visible in the sky in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, usually near the poles, auroras are mysterious and beautiful natural light shows. They are caused by collisions between electrically charged particles released from the sun and gas molecules such as oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth’s atmosphere. Many cultures have myths relating to aurora - In Finland it was believed that the lights were caused by the firefox, who ran so quickly across the snow that his tail caused sparks to fly into the night sky.
Video Credits*
Willy willy_
Hayley Steele - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJbgOcPRjtk
James King - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swex8cPMnGY
Brocken Spectre_
Michael Elcock - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m0zC_ivmw8
to2400km - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WW5BtklhFk
Lenticular clouds_
GenePoolChlorine - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfT1bjvfi1U
Ronan O Keeffe - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCMi9cxvlV8
Bazmo75 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRYBSMNR5RM
Aurora_
Alf Pilz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLXkZU86YvE
Thomas Sjoen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1qvxoGPtiY
Nasa.gov https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWJIfjzM2AI
Haboob_
Chuck Reynolds - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFfMbzqW17w
Rhirwin10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKBJbKXiJ0w
Chance Houston - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQMJ6qwoQpw