New York City Crepuscular Rays

Provided and copyright by: Michael J Passow, Earth2Class Workshops for Teachers
Summary authors & editors: Michael J Passow

Paddling northward at 6:20 a.m. (local time) in the Hudson River for the Manhattan Island Foundation's Stars and Stripes swim, I couldn't help but notice these prominent crepuscular rays. Cumulonimbus clouds to the east of New York City were responsible for their formation. Note how the higher cloud turrets effectively block the light from the early morning Sun -- columns of sunlit air are separated by darker shadowed regions. Photo taken on July 15, 2007.