mother-of-pearl cloud
meteorology
Also known as: nacreous cloud
Quick Summary
Mother-of-pearl clouds, also known as nacreous clouds, are luminous, iridescent clouds found at very high altitudes, around 85,000 feet. Their iridescence, similar to the sheen of mother-of-pearl from a mollusk shell, is caused by the way light waves interact with the cloud's stratified structure. This phenomenon occurs due to constructive and destructive interference of light. These clouds are distinct from typical clouds that form at lower altitudes as part of the water cycle.1234
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