Circumzenithal Arc, Supralateral Arc and More
January 23, 2010
Photographer: Lisa Gonnelli
Summary Author: Lisa Gonnelli; Jim Foster
The photo above showing several jaunty arcs was captured over Pilesgrove, New Jersey during the afternoon of November 9, 2009. These colorful curves may result when differently shaped ice crystals (six-sided plate shaped crystals and columnar crystals) in cirrus type clouds are aligned in a similar manner. At top is a circumzenithal arc. Touching this bright arc and curving downwards is a rare supralateral arc. Lower in the picture is an upper tangent arc and just above this is a very faint Parry arc. For more details on how these arcs are formed see the Earth Science Picture of the Day for December 2, 2009.
Pilesgrove, New Jersey coordinates: N39.650833, W75.316111