Residents in Leh experienced a rare phenomena of double sun halo recently.
Sun halos are very common across the world. Even, different parts of India witness this wonderful sight frequently. However, double sun halo is not so common, which is observed in one of the most popular tourist places in India, Leh. In this article, we will discuss about this rare phenomena, reasons, and its implications.
Generally, sun halo is created by sunlight refracting through ice crystals. This type of optical illusion takes place when the sunlight refracts through ice crystals suspended in ‘cirrus clouds’. This creates a mesmerizing sight of concentric rings surrounding the sun. Sun halo is also known as ‘Wegener Arcs’, named after the famous polar scientist Alfred Wegener.
The double halo observed in Leh sky, had two rings: the inner and outer halo with the radii of 22 and 46 degrees from the sun's center.
According to the Scientific American, “when the ice crystals are randomly oriented, the refracted sunlight creates the inner 22-degree halo. However, if the crystals are aligned horizontally, with their flat faces parallel to the ground, an additional refraction occurs, resulting in the outer 46-degree halo.”
It's all about paying attention to observe this sun halo. Always look for the side of the sun and the opposite side. These arcs are testimonials of intricate atmospheric beauty. Do not look directly to the sun at that time. Also, don't point a camera directly at the unobscured sun which may cause damage.
If you observe closely, the inner edge of the halo is always sharp. However, the outer edge is diffused in shape. Moreover, the sky surrounding the halo is always more darker than the rest of the sky.
According to scientific journal: “The crystals behave like prisms and mirrors, refracting and reflecting light between their faces, sending shafts of light in particular directions.” Meanwhile, these sun halos have been part of numerous weather lore. There’s an old saying: “ring around the moon means rain soon.”
It is believed that, if any region witnesses sun halo, the area will experience rainfall within 24-48 hours.
Halos can occur any part of the world during summer or winter.
We all might have observed sun halo, but, let me tell you, lunar halo is also common in the night sky. Lunar halos are mostly colourless and not so bright.
No, not at all. Sun halo has nothing to do with solar storm. The Sun, periodically goes through maxima or intense activity. Solar storm led to series of auroras, seen in Ladakh sky couple of weeks ago. This type of solar storm can cause power disruption and geomagnetic storm, there is no connection with Sun halo.
Just like sun halo, there are certain other optical illusions visible on the sky in the form of Sundogs and Sun pillars.
By exploring these arcs scientists continue to deepen our understanding of the mysteries of dynamic atmosphere surrounding us.
