What are natural phenomena? Natural phenomena
Natural phenomena are ordinary, sometimes even supernatural, climatic and meteorological events that occur naturally in all corners of the planet. It could be snow or rain, familiar from childhood, or it could be incredibly destructive or earthquakes. If such events take place away from a person and do not cause him material damage, they are considered unimportant. Nobody will pay attention to this. Otherwise, dangerous natural phenomena are considered by humanity as natural disasters.
Research and observations
People began to study characteristic natural phenomena in ancient times. However, it was possible to systematize these observations only in the 17th century; even a separate branch of science (natural science) was formed that studied these events. However, despite many scientific discoveries, and to this day some natural phenomena and processes remain poorly understood. Most often, we see the consequence of this or that event, but we can only guess about the root causes and build various theories. Researchers in many countries are working to predict the occurrence, and most importantly, prevent their possible occurrence or at least reduce the damage caused natural phenomena. And yet, despite all the destructive power of such processes, a person always remains a person and strives to find something beautiful and sublime in this. What natural phenomenon is most fascinating? They could be listed for a long time, but perhaps it should be noted such as a volcanic eruption, a tornado, a tsunami - they are all beautiful, despite the destruction and chaos that remain after them.
Weather phenomena of nature
Natural phenomena characterize the weather with its seasonal changes. Each season has its own set of events. For example, in the spring the following snowmelt, floods, thunderstorms, clouds, wind, and rain are observed. IN summer period the sun gives the planet an abundance of heat, natural processes at this time the most favorable are: clouds, warm wind, rains and, of course, rainbows; but they can also be severe: thunderstorms, hail. In autumn the temperature changes, the days become cloudy and rainy. During this period, the following phenomena prevail: fog, leaf fall, frost, first snow. in winter vegetable world falls asleep, some animals hibernate. The most common natural phenomena are: freeze-up, blizzard, blizzard, snow, which appear on the windows
All these events are commonplace for us; we have not paid attention to them for a long time. Now let's look at the processes that remind humanity that it is not the crown of everything, and planet Earth just sheltered it for a while.
Natural hazards
These are extreme and severe climate and meteorological events that occur in all parts of the world, but some regions are considered more vulnerable to certain types of events compared to others. Natural hazards become disasters when infrastructure is destroyed and people die. These losses represent major obstacles to human development. It is almost impossible to prevent such cataclysms; all that remains is timely forecasting of events in order to prevent casualties and material damage.
However, the difficulty lies in the fact that dangerous natural phenomena can occur on different scales and in different time. In fact, each of them is unique in its own way, and therefore it is very difficult to predict it. For example, flash floods and tornadoes are destructive but short-lived events that affect relatively small areas. Other dangerous disasters, such as droughts, can develop very slowly but affect entire continents and entire populations. Such disasters last for several months and sometimes years. In order to control and predict these events on some national hydrological and meteorological services and special specialized centers are tasked with studying hazardous geophysical phenomena. This includes volcanic eruptions, airborne ash, tsunamis, radioactive, biological, chemical pollution, etc.
Now let's take a closer look at some natural phenomena.
Drought
The main reason for this cataclysm is the lack of precipitation. Drought is very different from other natural disasters in its slow development, often its onset is hidden by various factors. There are even recorded cases in world history when this disaster lasted for many years. Drought often has dire consequences: first, water sources (streams, rivers, lakes, springs) dry up, many crops stop growing, then animals die, becoming widespread realities. poor health and malnutrition.
Tropical cyclones
These natural phenomena represent areas of very low atmospheric pressure over subtropical and tropical waters, forming a colossal rotating system of thunderstorms and winds hundreds (sometimes thousands) of kilometers across. The speed of surface winds in the zone of a tropical cyclone can reach two hundred kilometers per hour or even more. Interaction low pressure and wind-driven waves often result in a coastal storm surge - a huge volume of water thrown ashore with tremendous force and high speed, which wash away everything in their path.
Air pollution
These natural phenomena arise as a result of the accumulation in the air of harmful gases or particles of substances formed as a result of disasters (volcanic eruptions, fires) and human activities (work industrial enterprises, vehicles, etc.). Haze and smoke appear as a result of fires on undeveloped lands and forest areas, as well as burning of agricultural and logging residues; in addition, due to the formation of volcanic ash. These air pollutants are highly serious consequences for the human body. As a result of such disasters, visibility is reduced and interruptions in the operation of road and air transport occur.
Desert Locust
Such natural phenomena cause serious damage in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the southern part of the European continent. When environmental and weather favor the reproduction of these insects; they concentrate, as a rule, in small areas. However, as their numbers increase, the locust ceases to be an individual creature and turns into a single living organism. Small groups form huge flocks that move in search of food. The length of such a school can reach tens of kilometers. In a day, it can cover distances of up to two hundred kilometers, sweeping away all vegetation in its path. Thus, one ton of locusts (this is a small part of the swarm) can eat as much food in a day as ten elephants or 2,500 people eat. These insects pose a threat to millions of pastoralists and farmers living in vulnerable environmental conditions.
Flash floods and flash floods
Data can occur anywhere after heavy rainfall. All floodplains are vulnerable to flooding, and severe storms cause flash floods. Besides, flash floods sometimes even observed after periods of drought, when very heavy rains fall onto a hard and dry surface through which water flow cannot seep into the ground. These natural events are characterized by the most various types: from rapid small floods to a powerful layer of water that covers vast areas. They may be caused by a tornado, strong thunderstorms, monsoons, extratropical and tropical cyclones(their strength can be increased as a result of exposure warm current El Niño), melting snow and ice jams. In coastal areas, storm surges often lead to flooding as a result of a tsunami, cyclone, or rising river levels due to unusually high tides. Cause of flooding huge territories, located below the barrier dams, there is often high water on the rivers, which is caused by melting snow.
Other natural hazards
1. Mud flow or landslide.
5. Lightning.
6. Extreme temperatures.
7. Tornado.
10. Fires on undeveloped lands or forests.
11. Heavy snow and rain.
12. Strong winds.
Natural hazards mean extreme climatic or meteorological phenomena, occurring naturally at one point or another on the planet. In some regions, such hazardous phenomena may occur with greater frequency and destructive force than in others. Dangerous natural phenomena develop into natural disasters when the infrastructure created by civilization is destroyed and people themselves die.
1. Earthquakes
Among all natural hazardous phenomena First place should be given to earthquakes. In places of ruptures earth's crust tremors occur that cause vibrations of the earth's surface with the release of gigantic energy. The resulting seismic waves are transmitted over very long distances, although these waves have the greatest destructive power at the epicenter of the earthquake. Due to strong vibrations of the earth's surface, massive destruction of buildings occurs.
Since quite a lot of earthquakes occur, and the surface of the earth is quite densely built up, then total people throughout history who died as a result of earthquakes exceed the number of all other victims natural disasters and numbers in many millions. For example, for last decade Around the world, about 700 thousand people died from earthquakes. Entire settlements instantly collapsed from the most destructive shocks. Japan is the country most affected by earthquakes, and one of the most catastrophic earthquakes occurred there in 2011. The epicenter of this earthquake was in the ocean near the island of Honshu; on the Richter scale, the force of the tremors reached 9.1. Powerful aftershocks and the subsequent destructive tsunami disabled the Fukushima nuclear power plant, destroying three out of four power units. Radiation covered a significant area around the station, making densely populated areas, so valuable in Japanese conditions, uninhabitable. The colossal tsunami wave turned into mush what the earthquake could not destroy. More than 16 thousand people officially died alone, to which another 2.5 thousand can be safely included who are considered missing. Only in this century have destructive earthquakes occurred in Indian Ocean, Iran, Chile, Haiti, Italy, Nepal.
2. Tsunami waves
A specific water disaster in the form of tsunami waves often results in numerous casualties and catastrophic destruction. As a result of underwater earthquakes or shifts tectonic plates Very fast, but barely noticeable waves arise in the ocean, which grow into huge ones as they approach the shores and reach shallow water. Most often, tsunamis occur in areas with increased seismic activity. A huge mass of water, quickly approaching the shore, destroys everything in its path, picks it up and carries it deep into the coast, and then carries it into the ocean with a reverse current. People, unable to sense danger like animals, often do not notice the approach of a deadly wave, and when they do, it is too late.
Usually killed by a tsunami more people than from the earthquake that caused it (the latest case in Japan). In 1971, the most powerful tsunami ever observed occurred there, the wave of which rose 85 meters at a speed of about 700 km/h. But the most catastrophic was the tsunami observed in the Indian Ocean (source - an earthquake off the coast of Indonesia), which claimed the lives of about 300 thousand people along a large part of the Indian Ocean coast.
A tornado (in America this phenomenon is called a tornado) is a fairly stable atmospheric vortex, most often occurring in storm clouds. He's visual...
3. Volcanic eruption
Throughout its history, humanity has remembered many catastrophic volcanic eruptions. When the pressure of magma exceeds the strength of the earth's crust at the most weak points, which is what volcanoes are, it ends in an explosion and outpouring of lava. But the lava itself, from which you can simply walk away, is not so dangerous as the hot pyroclastic gases rushing from the mountain, penetrated here and there by lightning, as well as the noticeable influence of the strongest eruptions on the climate.
Volcanologists count about half a thousand dangerous active volcanoes, several dormant supervolcanoes, not counting the thousands that are extinct. Thus, during the eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia, the surrounding lands were plunged into darkness for two days, 92 thousand inhabitants died, and cold temperatures were felt even in Europe and America.
List of some major volcanic eruptions:
- Volcano Laki (Iceland, 1783). As a result of that eruption, a third of the island's population died - 20 thousand inhabitants. The eruption lasted for 8 months, during which streams of lava and liquid mud erupted from volcanic fissures. Geysers have become more active than ever. Living on the island at this time was almost impossible. The crops were destroyed and even the fish disappeared, so the survivors starved and suffered from unbearable living conditions. This may be the longest eruption in human history.
- Volcano Tambora (Indonesia, Sumbawa Island, 1815). When the volcano exploded, the sound of the explosion spread over 2 thousand kilometers. Even the remote islands of the archipelago were covered with ash, and 70 thousand people died from the eruption. But even today Tambora is one of the highest mountains in Indonesia, which remain volcanically active.
- Volcano Krakatoa (Indonesia, 1883). 100 years after Tambora, another catastrophic eruption occurred in Indonesia, this time “blowing the roof off” (in literally) Krakatoa volcano. After the catastrophic explosion that destroyed the volcano itself, frightening rumbles were heard for another two months. A huge amount was released into the atmosphere rocks, ash and hot gases. The eruption was followed by a powerful tsunami with wave heights of up to 40 meters. These two natural disasters together they destroyed 34 thousand islanders along with the island itself.
- Volcano Santa Maria (Guatemala, 1902). After a 500-year hibernation, this volcano woke up again in 1902, beginning the 20th century with the most catastrophic eruption, which resulted in the formation of a one and a half kilometer crater. In 1922, Santa Maria reminded itself again - this time the eruption itself was not too strong, but the cloud of hot gases and ash brought the death of 5 thousand people.
4. Tornadoes
Throughout the history of mankind, powerful earthquakes have repeatedly caused colossal damage to people and caused a huge number of casualties among the population...
A tornado is a very impressive natural phenomenon, especially in the United States, where it is called a tornado. This is an air flow twisted in a spiral into a funnel. Small tornadoes resemble slender, narrow pillars, and giant tornadoes can resemble a mighty carousel reaching towards the sky. The closer to the funnel, the stronger the wind speed, it begins to drag along increasingly larger objects, up to cars, carriages and light buildings. In the “tornado alley” of the United States, entire city blocks are often destroyed and people die. The most powerful vortices of the F5 category reach a speed of about 500 km/h at the center. The state that suffers the most from tornadoes every year is Alabama.
There is a variety fire tornado, which sometimes occurs in areas of massive fires. There, from the heat of the flame, powerful upward currents are formed, which begin to twist into a spiral, like an ordinary tornado, only this one is filled with flame. As a result, a powerful draft is formed near the surface of the earth, from which the flame grows even stronger and incinerates everything around. When a catastrophic earthquake occurred in Tokyo in 1923, it caused massive fires that led to the formation of a fire tornado that rose 60 meters. The column of fire moved towards the square with frightened people and burned 38 thousand people in a few minutes.
5. Sandstorms
This phenomenon occurs in sandy deserts when there is a strong wind. Sand, dust and soil particles rise to a fairly high altitude, forming a cloud that sharply reduces visibility. If an unprepared traveler gets caught in such a storm, he may die from grains of sand falling into his lungs. Herodotus described the story as 525 BC. e. In the Sahara, a 50,000-strong army was buried alive by a sandstorm. In Mongolia in 2008, 46 people died as a result of this natural phenomenon, and a year earlier two hundred people suffered the same fate.
Occasionally, tsunami waves occur in the ocean. They are very insidious - in the open ocean they are completely invisible, but as soon as they approach the coastal shelf, they...
6. Avalanches
From the snowy mountain peaks go periodically snow avalanches. Climbers especially often suffer from them. During the First World War, up to 80 thousand people died from avalanches in the Tyrolean Alps. In 1679, half a thousand people died from snow melting in Norway. In 1886, a major disaster occurred, as a result of which “ White death"claimed 161 lives. The records of Bulgarian monasteries also mention human casualties snow avalanches.
7. Hurricanes
In the Atlantic they are called hurricanes, and in Pacific Ocean typhoons. These are huge atmospheric vortices, in the center of which the strongest winds and sharply reduced pressure are observed. Several years ago, the devastating Hurricane Katrina swept over the United States, which particularly affected the state of Louisiana and the densely populated city of New Orleans, located at the mouth of the Mississippi. 80% of the city was flooded, and 1,836 people died. Famous destructive hurricanes steel also:
- Hurricane Ike (2008). The diameter of the vortex was over 900 km, and in its center the wind blew at a speed of 135 km/h. In the 14 hours that the cyclone moved across the United States, it managed to cause $30 billion worth of destruction.
- Hurricane Wilma (2005). This is the largest Atlantic cyclone in the entire history of weather observations. The cyclone, which originated in the Atlantic, made landfall several times. The damage it caused amounted to $20 billion, killing 62 people.
- Typhoon Nina (1975). This typhoon was able to breach China's Bangqiao Dam, causing the destruction of the dams below and causing catastrophic flooding. The typhoon killed up to 230 thousand Chinese.
8. Tropical cyclones
These are the same hurricanes, but in tropical and subtropical waters, representing huge atmospheric systems low pressure with winds and thunderstorms, often exceeding a thousand kilometers in diameter. Near the surface of the earth, winds at the center of the cyclone can reach speeds of more than 200 km/h. Low pressure and winds cause a coastal storm surge to form - when ashore with high speed Colossal masses of water are released, washing away everything in its path.
Ecological disasters have their own specifics - during them not a single person may die, but very significant damage will be caused...
9. Landslide
Prolonged rains can cause landslides. The soil swells, loses stability and slides down, taking with it everything that is on the surface of the earth. Most often, landslides occur in the mountains. In 1920, the most devastating landslide occurred in China, under which 180 thousand people were buried. Other examples:
- Bududa (Uganda, 2010). Due to mudflows, 400 people died, and 200 thousand had to be evacuated.
- Sichuan (China, 2008). Avalanches, landslides and mudflows caused by an 8-magnitude earthquake claimed 20 thousand lives.
- Leyte (Philippines, 2006). The downpour caused a mudslide and landslide that killed 1,100 people.
- Vargas (Venezuela, 1999). Mudflows and landslides after heavy rains (almost 1000 mm of precipitation fell in 3 days) on the northern coast led to the death of almost 30 thousand people.
10. Ball lightning
We are accustomed to ordinary linear lightning accompanied by thunder, but ball lightning is much rarer and more mysterious. The nature of this phenomenon is electrical, but scientists cannot yet give a more accurate description of ball lightning. It is known that she can have different sizes and shape, most often yellowish or reddish luminous spheres. For unknown reasons, ball lightning often defies the laws of mechanics. Most often they appear before a thunderstorm, although they can also appear in absolute clear weather, as well as indoors or in an airplane cockpit. The luminous ball hovers in the air with a slight hiss, then can begin to move in any direction. Over time, it seems to shrink until it disappears completely or explodes with a roar. But the damage ball lightning can cause is very limited.
At certain periods of time called seasons of the year. Each such period is characterized by its own meteorological anomalies.
Natural phenomena in spring
During 3 months of this time of year, the climate and living conditions of all fauna and flora change beyond recognition.
With the onset of March, nature is just beginning to come to life and awaken from winter period"hibernation". It's warm by this time sun rays It is not yet sufficient for the snow to completely melt, but the air is already noticeably warming up. In March, the first spring natural phenomena make themselves felt (examples: ice drift, thawed patches, south wind). At this time, the clouds rise noticeably and become cumulus.
From the first days of April, the time comes for the most “gray” meteorological anomalies. The names of natural phenomena of this time are known to everyone: fogs, drizzling rains, and less often thunderstorms. By the middle of the month, the snow has completely disappeared, but the rivers can still be dangerous due to strong ice drift. Fortunately, the air temperature is warming up every day, so the consequences winter frosts soon they will stop making themselves known. Also in April dangerous spring floods, a squall wind caused by the connection of a southerly flow with a northerly one).
As for the fauna, it begins to fully come to life by the first days of May.
Spring phenomena: rain
With warming comes liquid precipitation. Such natural phenomena (see pictures below) are called rain or downpours. This is a continuous stream of water directed vertically from heaven to earth. Clouds gradually accumulate moisture, and when pressure and gravity begin to prevail over them, precipitation falls. Since the air temperature is above 0 degrees, it means that water molecules do not crystallize into snowflakes. On the other hand, in rare cases, hail is possible closer to May.
Rain is one of the 5 natural phenomena of spring that pose a possible danger to the economy and Agriculture. Prolonged precipitation can flood not only streets and private houses, but also fields with seedlings and sprouts, which will subsequently rot, therefore, yields will drop significantly.
On this moment It is customary to distinguish the following types of rain:
- ordinary (precipitation without such bright pronounced signs, like power, duration);
- torrential (short-term rain, characterized by suddenness and force of fall);
- protracted (characterized by a long duration, up to several days, and a decrease in air temperature);
- short-term (characterized by the transience and abrupt end of precipitation);
- snowy (characterized by a decrease in air temperature and partial crystallization of water molecules);
- mushroom (during such rain, the sun's rays continue to reach the ground);
- hail-like (short-term and dangerous rainfall, falling partly in the form of ice).
Spring phenomena: thunderstorm
This meteorological anomaly is a separate species rain not included in the traditional classification. A thunderstorm is a precipitation event that occurs simultaneously with thunder and lightning.
Over the course of several days, clouds accumulate particles of moisture that are picked up by strong winds. Gradually, dark cumulus clouds form from them. During precipitation from high power And squally wind Electrical tension arises between the surface of the earth and the clouds, during which lightning is formed. This effect is always accompanied strong thunder. Such natural phenomena (you can see the pictures below) most often occur at the end of spring.
For a thunderstorm to occur it is necessary following conditions: uneven heating of the most lower layers air, atmospheric convection or sudden intensity of cloud formation in mountainous areas.
Spring phenomena: wind
The climate phenomenon is an air flow that is directed along a horizontal axis. Spring natural phenomena such as wind and storm (in rare cases) are characterized by high speed, force of impact, area of distribution and noise level.
From a meteorological point of view, this climate anomaly consists of indicators of direction, strength and duration. The most strong currents air with medium gusts is called squalls. Regarding duration, winds are as follows: hurricane, storm, breeze, typhoon, etc.
In some places on Earth, monsoons occur due to frequent temperature changes. Such global winds are characterized by a long duration (up to 3 months). If such air currents are caused by temperature differences relative to latitudes, then they are called trade winds. Their duration can reach up to a year. The border between monsoons and trade winds is called Spring and autumn, it is especially noticeable in countries with temperate climate. In the tropical regions of the planet, it is thanks to the wind that the weather and air temperature change so often.
Spring phenomena: clouds
Towards mid-March, the sky gradually begins to thin out. Now the clouds have clear boundaries. They themselves are a product of condensation of particles of water vapor in the upper layers of the atmosphere.
Clouds form over earth's surface. The main condition for their formation is warm wet air. It begins to rise to the upper levels where, with a noticeable decrease in temperature, it stops at a certain height. Essentially, clouds are made of water vapor and ice crystals. A large accumulation of them at high concentrations forms cumulus clouds.
All spring natural phenomena have their own forms of uniqueness, called meteorological identifiers in science. At high temperature clouds are filled with droplet elements, and at low temperatures - with crystalline elements. Regarding this criterion, there is a separate classification of the phenomenon. Thus, clouds are divided into rain, thunderstorm, cirrus, stratus, cumulus, pearlescent, etc.
Spring phenomena: melting snow
As air temperatures increase, frozen water crystals begin to gradually turn into water. This process is called snow melting. All frozen people are susceptible to this dissolution if the air temperature rises to 0 degrees. Data seasonal phenomena in nature they occur only in spring. Exact time up to a month is set depending on the current climate.
The process of snow melting noticeably accelerates with rainfall. After which small temporary reservoirs are formed. Snow melts most quickly on flat terrain, where there are no wind barriers or shelter from precipitation. In the forest, this process can drag on for a month. In this case, there is a high probability of rising groundwater levels.
Often snow begins to evaporate even in frosty weather. This natural phenomenon is called sublimation. Under the influence sunlight Water particles change from a solid to a gaseous state.
Spring phenomena: ice drift
This anomaly is considered the most dangerous of natural phenomena this time of year. This phenomenon is the movement of half-melted ice floes on lakes and rivers under the influence strong wind or currents. The greatest movement is observed in the middle of the reservoir. Such spring natural phenomena are typical for March, when they can sufficiently warm the air and ground temperatures.
On rivers, ice drift is often accompanied by congestion. In large bodies of water, this phenomenon is determined by the drift of fragments under the influence of wind. The intensity of ice movement, as well as its character, directly depends on the current climatic conditions, time of opening, structure of the river bed and hydraulic properties of water flow.
The duration of this process is spring time varies within 3-4 weeks. Here important role landscape and climate play a role.
Spring phenomena: thawed patches
Typically this process begins in early March, but depending on climatic conditions the timing may move to mid-April. A thawed area is a place where there was snow in frosty weather, and with warming, a kind of funnel appeared on it. Such spring natural phenomena are very interesting to study.
First of all, thawed patches form around tree trunks, since heat emanates from the root system of plants, supported by solar synthesis. Next, the process affects fields and swamps. Thawed patches may be different color, depending on what the surface looks like (ground, grass, leaves). A similar situation exists with their form. In the fields, thawed patches are elongated, like beds; in gardens they are round (projection of tree trunks).
This process begins to take effect when average daily temperature from -5 degrees and above.
Spring phenomena: awakening of flora
The appearance of thawed patches around the trees indicates that active sap flow has begun in the plants. These seasonal phenomena in nature mean only one thing - the awakening of flora after a long winter of passive activity.
You can check this very simply. To do this, just pierce the tree bark with a needle or thin knife. If a clear sweet liquid of a pale reddish color appears at this place, therefore, sap flow in in full swing. This indicates that nature is preparing to green up.
Soon buds will appear and bloom on the branches. In the second half of spring, thanks to the wind and insects, the flora will receive pollination. Therefore, a harvest can be expected in the near future.
Spring phenomena in wildlife
As you know, this time of year is marked by the return of birds to warm countries. First of all, this concerns rooks. They are considered the first harbingers of spring. Mass migration of birds occurs towards the end of March, when the night air temperature rises to +10 degrees.
Also, one of the indicative processes in wildlife that characterize the onset of spring is the molting of animals and the awakening of wild animals from hibernation. Coat change occurs in March, although some representatives of the fauna may have it in the fall.
It is very important to know all these spring natural phenomena. It is not for nothing that natural history is included in the main curriculum of school subjects. Knowing the fundamental processes of climate and nature is the duty of every person on the planet.
20. Lunar rainbow.
We are almost used to the usual rainbow. The lunar rainbow is much more a rare event than the rainbow that is visible when daylight. A lunar rainbow can only appear in places with high humidity and only when the Moon is almost full. The photo shows a moonbow at Cumberland Falls in Kentucky.
19. Mirages
Despite their prevalence, mirages always evoke an almost mystical sense of wonder. We all know the reason for the appearance of most mirages - overheated air changes its optical properties, causing light irregularities called mirages.
Halos usually occur when high humidity or severe frost- Previously, the halo was considered a phenomenon from above, and people expected something unusual.
17. Belt of Venus
An interesting optical phenomenon that occurs when the atmosphere is dusty is an unusual “belt” between the sky and the horizon.
16. Pearl clouds
Unusually high clouds (about 10-12 km), becoming visible at sunset.
15. Northern lights.
Appears when high-energy collisions occur elementary particles upon collision with the Earth's ionosphere.
14. Colored Moon
When the atmosphere is dusty, high humidity, or for other reasons, the Moon sometimes appears colored. The red Moon is especially unusual.
13. Lenticular clouds
An extremely rare phenomenon, appearing mainly before a hurricane. Opened just 30 years ago. Also called Mammatus clouds.
12. St. Elmo's Fire.
A fairly common phenomenon caused by increased electric field strength before a thunderstorm, during a thunderstorm and immediately after. The first witnesses to this phenomenon were sailors who observed St. Elmo's lights on masts and other vertical pointed objects.
11. Fire whirlwinds.
They often form during fires - they can also appear over burning haystacks.
10. Mushroom clouds.
Also formed over places with elevated temperature- above forest fires, For example.
9. Light pillars.
The nature of these phenomena is similar to the conditions causing the appearance halo.
8. Diamond dust.
Frozen water droplets scattering the light of the Sun.
7. Fish, frog and other rains.
One of the hypotheses explaining the appearance of such rains is a tornado that sucks out nearby bodies of water and carries their contents over long distances.
A phenomenon that occurs when ice crystals fall from clouds that do not reach the surface of the earth, evaporating along the way.
Hurricane winds have many names. Occurs when moving air masses from the upper layers to the lower ones.
4. Fire rainbow.
Occurs when sunlight passes through high clouds.
3. Green beam.
An extremely rare phenomenon that occurs at sunset or sunrise.
2. Ball lightning.
There are many hypotheses explaining the origin of these phenomena, but none have been proven yet.
1. Optical flashes and jets
Only recently discovered due to their short existence (less than a second). Occurs when hurricanes occur.
Natural phenomena are the root cause of the appearance of ancient gods on earth. Seriously, the first time I saw lightning, a forest fire, northern lights, solar eclipse, the person could not even think that these were tricks of nature. Not otherwise, supernatural forces are having fun. Studying natural phenomena is interesting, but difficult (if they were simple, they would have been explained long ago). Most often, natural phenomena are understood as relatively rare but beautiful events: rainbows, ball lightning, inexplicable swamp lights, erupting volcanoes and earthquakes. Nature is harsh, hides mysteries and cruelly breaks everything that people have set up, but this does not stop us from trying to understand all natural phenomena without exception: atmospheric, in the bowels, in the depths, on other planets, outside the galaxy.
From St. Elmo's lights to ionospheric glow, a mass of strange luminous balls and other effects are formed in the Earth's atmosphere, some of which - for their long stay in the mythological consciousness - have not been explained to this day. Let's get acquainted with atmospheric anomalies and weed out fiction from truth.