Beautiful Noctilucent Clouds

Noctilucent clouds are tenuous cloud-like phenomena that are the "ragged-edge" of a much brighter and pervasive polar cloud layer called polar mesospheric clouds in the upper atmosphere, visible in a deep twilight. They are made of crystals of water ice. The name means roughly night shining in Latin. They are most commonly observed in the summer months at latitudes between 50° and 70° north and south of the equator.

They are the highest clouds in the Earth's atmosphere, located in the mesosphere at altitudes of around 76 to 85 kilometers (47 to 53 mi). They are normally too faint to be seen, and are visible only when illuminated by sunlight from below the horizon while the lower layers of the atmosphere are in the Earth's shadow. Noctilucent clouds are not fully understood and are a recently discovered meteorological phenomenon; there is no evidence that they were observed before 1885.

Noctilucent clouds can form only under very restrictive conditions; their occurrence can be used as a sensitive guide to changes in the upper atmosphere. Since their relatively recent classification, the occurrence of noctilucent clouds appears to be increasing in frequency, brightness and extent. It is theorized that this increase is connected to climate change.

source

"Brush Touch" Cirrus Clouds

Cirrus clouds generally refer to atmospheric clouds that are characterized by thin, wisplike strands, often accompanied by tufts, leading to their common (non-standard) name of mare's tail. Sometimes these clouds are so extensive that they are virtually indistinguishable from one another, forming a sheet of cirrus called cirrostratus. Sometimes convection at high altitudes produces another form of cirrus called cirrocumulus, a pattern of small cloud tufts which include droplets of freezed water. The term is also used for certain interstellar clouds composed of sub-micrometre sized dust grains.

Many cirrus clouds produce hair like filaments made of the heavier ice crystals that precipitate from them. These "fall streaks", a form of virga, often indicate the difference in the motion of air (wind shear) between the upper part of the cirrus cloud and the air below it. Sometimes the top of the cirrus cloud is moving rapidly above a slower layer of air, or the streak is falling into a faster moving lower layer. The directions of these winds can also vary.

Formation

Cirrus clouds are formed when water vapor freezes into ice crystals at altitudes above 8000 meters (26,000 ft). Due to the sparse moisture at a high altitude, they tend to be very thin. At this altitude, aircraft leave condensation trails that can turn into cirrus clouds. This happens when hot exhaust, mostly water, freezes, leaving a visible trail. Streaks may appear straight when wind shear is absent, giving the clouds the appearance of a comma (cirrus uncinus), or tangle, an indication of high-level turbulence. The falling ice crystals evaporate before reaching the ground.

Cirrus clouds cover up to 30% of the Earth and have a net heating effect. Cirrus clouds efficiently absorb outgoing infrared radiation (heat) beneath them (greenhouse effect), while only marginally reflecting incoming sunlight (albedo).

source

Beautiful Nacreous Clouds

Nacreous clouds (Polar stratospheric clouds) are clouds in the winter polar stratosphere at altitudes of 15,000–25,000 meters (50,000–80,000 ft). They are implicated in the formation of ozone holes; their effects on ozone depletion arise because they support chemical reactions that produce active chlorine which catalyzes ozone destruction, and also because they remove gaseous nitric acid, perturbing nitrogen and chlorine cycles in a way which increases ozone destruction.

Formation

The stratosphere is very dry; unlike the troposphere, it rarely allows clouds to form. In the extreme cold of the polar winter, however, stratospheric clouds of different types may form, which are classified according to their physical state and chemical composition.

Due to their high altitude and the curvature of the surface of the Earth, these clouds will receive sunlight from below the horizon and reflect it to the ground, shining brightly well before dawn or after dusk.

Nacreous clouds form at very low temperatures, below −78 °C. These temperatures can occur in the lower stratosphere in polar winter. In the Antarctic, temperatures below −88 °C frequently cause type II PSCs. Such low temperatures are rarer in the Arctic. In the Northern hemisphere, the generation of lee waves by mountains may locally cool the lower stratosphere and lead to the formation of Nacreous clouds.

source

Mammatus Clouds

Mammatus, also known as mammatocumulus (meaning "mammary cloud" or "breast cloud"), is a meteorological term applied to a cellular pattern of pouches hanging underneath the base of a cloud. The name mammatus, derived from the Latin mamma (meaning "udder" or "breast"), refers to a resemblance between the characteristic shape of these clouds and the breast of a woman.

Characteristics

Mammatus are most often associated with the anvil cloud that extends from a cumulonimbus, but may also be found under altocumulus, altostratus, stratocumulus, and cirrus clouds, as well as volcanic ash clouds. In the United States, sky gazers may be most familiar with the very distinct and more common cumulonimbus mammatus. When occurring in cumulonimbus, mammatus are often indicative of a particularly strong storm or maybe even a tornadic storm. Due to the intensely sheared environment in which mammatus form, aviators are strongly cautioned to avoid cumulonimbus with mammatus.

Mammatus may appear as smooth, ragged or lumpy lobes and may be opaque or semitransparent. Because mammatus occur as a grouping of lobes, the way they clump together can vary from an isolated cluster to a field of mamma that spread over hundreds of kilometers to being organized along a line, and may be composed of unequal or similarly-sized lobes. The individual mammatus lobe average diameters of 1–3 km and lengths on average of 0.5 km. A lobe can last an average of 10 minutes, but a whole cluster of mamma can range from 15 minutes to a few hours. They usually are composed of ice, but also can be a mixture of ice and liquid water or be composed of almost entirely liquid water.

source

Wonderful Lenticular Clouds

Lenticular clouds are stationary lens-shaped clouds that form at high altitudes, normally aligned perpendicular to the wind direction. Lenticular clouds can be separated into altocumulus standing lenticularis (ACSL), stratocumulus standing lenticular (SCSL), and cirrocumulus standing lenticular (CCSL). Due to their shape, they are often mistaken as Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs).

Formation

Where stable moist air flows over a mountain or a range of mountains, a series of large-scale standing waves may form on the downwind side. If the temperature at the crest of the wave drops to the dew point, moisture in the air may condense to form lenticular clouds. As the moist air moves back down into the trough of the wave, the cloud may evaporate back into vapor. Under certain conditions, long strings of lenticular clouds can form near the crest of each successive wave, creating a formation known as a 'wave cloud'. The wave systems cause large vertical air movements and so enough water vapor may condense to produce precipitation. The clouds have been mistaken for UFOs (or "visual cover" for UFOs) because these clouds have a characteristic lens appearance and smooth saucer-like shape. Bright colors (called Irisation) are sometimes seen along the edge of lenticular clouds.

Flight

Pilots of powered aircraft tend to avoid flying near lenticular clouds because of the turbulence of the rotor systems that accompany them, but glider pilots actively seek them out. The precise location of the rising air mass is fairly easy to predict from the orientation of the clouds. "Wave lift" of this kind is often very smooth and strong, and enables gliders to soar to remarkable altitudes and great distances. The current gliding world records for both distance (over 3,000 km; 1,864 mi) and altitude (15,460 m; 50,721 ft) were set using such lift.

source

A Lion called Christian, A True Story

Christian The Lion, proving that the lion has the same feelings as humans. Having memory, affection, love, nostalgia, and loyalty. This phenomenon had horrendous animal experts in the '70s. They never thought that vicious animal which is equipped with an instinct to kill, could have a memory of his past and can control the killing of human instincts, which in fact is considered an enemy by almost all wild creatures.

Christian, is a lion who become victims of crime poacher who then traded on the blackmarket. While the fate of the mother or brother Christian is not known, whether they are also caught, killed or sold.

In 1969, Anthony "Ace" Bourke and John Rendall, two friends, surprised to find a 6 month-old lion cub at Harrods store animals who are lonely. Lion baby's condition was really pathetic. The small lion locked inside a very small bars. Hoarse voice touched the hearts of the little lion is the second young man and then they buy it and give Christian names to the baby lion. The three of them finally live in a house in London. They were treated like a friend Christian. They play ball together, eat together, watch together and walk together. They became three figures an inseparable companions.

John, Anthony and Christian. Moments Together

Until finally, 9 months have passed. Christian has been transformed into an adult lion and their small home environment is not suitable anymore for the Christian to run around freely just as he had little time first. Coupled with an anxious and frightened neighbors saw the figure of a huge male lion running around their environment. Although sad, Anthony and John decided to restore the Christian to Kenya, Africa, under the supervision of a wild animal expert to restore the Christian nature of the "friend of man" into a wild animal. If not, Chris will not be able to survive in the wild.

John And Anthony Accompany Christian, Moments Will Separated

Over the past few months in quarantine at the African Christian, Christian experts minimize contacts with humans, especially with their owners. During that time, says watchdog, Christian looked gloomy and sad. Again and again he roared hoarsely, may summon both employers as well as his friend, John and Anthony. Although John and Anthony would like to see Christian, but experts will be banned, because it was feared by keahdiran they would both hinder the process of natural instinct as an animal wild lion-free and malignant.

Finally, Christian managed to find his true identity as a male lion. He also released free kealam although still monitored by experts. Initially, Christian gets difficult to determine the territory and make the herd, because some areas are already occupied by another male lion and the lioness, of course, been dominated by the male lion. Christian need flock. Because a lion can not survive without a flock. Typically, in one herd consists of at least three lions, one male two female. Because in the herd may only be led by a male lion. The stronger the male lion, it will more and more other lioness who joined the herd.Therefore, the young male lion will go out of their group and formed his own group of other region.

This is the first problem that must be faced by a Christian. He must form groups to survive. Because, lions can not hunt if it was alone. The hunt for what they do is always in the form of a compact group cooperation. The lioness duty to pursue and make tired of the prey, if prey is exhausted then the male lion will perform the final action to terminate the life of the prey by biting the neck of the prey to death or the term "finishing touch".The greater the number of lions in one herd, the greater the size of their prey. Such as rhinos, elephants, bison and others.

Therefore, John and Anthony are very worried about Christian. Because there is rarely the male lion will die in a fight to obtain or maintain the area or herd with another male lion, or be slain by their hunted prey. If a male lion does not care and attack the prey not on time (the prey has not been exhausted), then no doubt a male lion will die in the rock to rock when its prey to rebel when his neck bitten by the male lion, trampled or even attacked behind by the prey.

However, the reports they received from the overseer showed positive developments achieved by the Christian. Christian managed to get the herd and he even managed to become chairman flock in large numbers. Christian development is a little comforting John and Anthony. However, they could not stem their nostalgia to their best friend this.

After a year they split up, John and Anthony finally decided to visit Christian in Africa.Expert lion and management of protected forests in Africa said that the Christian has to live with other lions and became wild. And management of protected forests also said that Christian would not recognize John Rendall and Anthony. They all forbid them to meet with Christian, because the lion would not remember them anymore and of course will result in the death of both of them. But Anthony and John do not care. They believe, ties of friendship that exists between the three of them very deep. Christian will not attack them. Christian must continue to remember them both.

Finally, John and Anthony went to the forest of Africa and many hours looking for Christian. One of their friends interested in this event and participate with them to record this meeting. Will this meeting will be an advanced disaster for Anthony and John or Christian was still able to recall them?

After hours of searching, they finally find a Christian in nearby mountainous areas.Friend John and Anthony who recorded this incident strained to hold his breath when he saw a large male lion who ran down the rocks there and ran towards them. Only John and Anthony are being relaxed and smiling broadly as if to welcome their old friend.

In accordance with the allegations of John and Anthony, Christian does not forget them.Christian looks so happy to see two human faces which she loved. Christian took turns hugging and kissing the face of John and Anthony insistently as his habit when he was a child. The three close friends that they finally meet again and mingle with each other for hours and then split up again.

Letting Go Fly, We Meet Again

When John and Anthony returned to visit Christian a few months later, Christian even brings one of his wife and introduce it to them both. And miraculously, Christian couples who had been born as a true lion who never associated with humans look cool and be spoiled-spoiled even contributed to Anthony and John as that of Christian.

It makes the experts and British society was shocked amazement. Seeing the emotions and reactions of this Christian. They did not expect a lion which has been separated more than a year and has become wild and ferocious lion appropriate nature will be able to be "warm" and longing to two people, a former employer who only spend time with her 9-month.

True Friendship between human and animal