This photo is showing light pillars at an ice-skating rink in Fairbanks, Alaska. This phenomenon is similar to a Sun-pillar, ice crystals reflecting sunlight from the atmosphere, in appearance and in the way it is caused to occur. These columns of colorful light are caused by flat ice crystals which reflect the ground light. Normally, these ice crystals wouldn't reach the ground before evaporating but, when in such freezing temperatures, the fluttering flat ice crystals form what is known as a crystal fog, or light snow near to the ground. A question that this picture raises is why are the various pillars of light not all the same color? What causes some of the columns to be blue and the others to be more of a yellow-green color? Also, is it more common to see light pillars or a Sun-pillar?
I've never seen anything really like this before. It's cool that little ice crystals can reflect light and create such beautiful rays of light. One question I would have is why some are taller than others/ why they don't reach higher in the sky.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the most extraordinary things that I have seen. I think it is so interesting how ice crystals can create such a vibrant color rays. I wonder what size the ice crystals that create the light pillars are and whether their size changes the size of the pillar. I also was wondering what the light from the ground is that causes these light pillars.
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ReplyDeleteThese pillars of light are astounding. I have never seen anything like this. The way that the pillars shoot into the air just took my breath away. I have a couple of questions about this picture: Does the temperature being cold in Alaska affect the lights? What would it look like if you went underneath the pillars, becoming engulfed by the light?
ReplyDeleteI checked the explanation on the website, and I think it is reflecting man-made light from the ground at the ice-skating rink. That may explain the different types of colors. Perhaps it is from different light sources, such as different types of bulbs.
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ReplyDeleteThis is one of the most interesting photos i have ever seen. It is very fascinating to see how the ice crystals can create such vibrant and beautiful rays of of light.
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