As children, we are all amazed at blue skies, white clouds, and bright stars. With age, this goes away for many, and we stop noticing nature. Check out this list of unusual natural phenomena, for sure it will make you once again surprised by the complex organization of our world, and natural phenomena in particular.
20. Lunar rainbow.
A moonbow (also known as a nightbow) is a rainbow spawned by the moon. The lunar rainbow is comparatively paler than the usual one. Lunar rainbows are best seen when the moon is full, or when the moon is close to full, as this is when the moon is at its brightest. For a lunar rainbow to appear, other than those caused by a waterfall, the moon must be low in the sky (less than 42 degrees and preferably even lower) and the sky must be dark. And of course it must rain against the moon. A lunar rainbow is much rarer than a rainbow seen in daylight. The lunar rainbow phenomenon is observed in only a few places in the world. Waterfalls in Cumberland Falls, near Williamsburg, Kentucky, USA; Waimea, Hawaii; Zailiysky Alatau in the foothills of Almaty; The Victoria Falls on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe are well-known for their frequent sightings of lunar rainbows. Within Yosemite National Park in the United States is a large number of waterfalls. As a result, lunar rainbows are also observed in the park, especially when the water level rises in spring from melting snow. Lunar rainbows are also observed on the Yamal Peninsula in conditions of heavy fog. Probably, with sufficiently strong fog and sufficiently clear weather, a lunar rainbow can be observed at any latitude.
19. Mirages
Despite their prevalence, mirages always evoke an almost mystical sense of wonder. An optical phenomenon in the atmosphere: the reflection of light by the boundary between layers of air that are sharply different in density. For an observer, such a reflection consists in the fact that, together with a distant object (or a section of the sky), its imaginary image, displaced relative to the object, is visible. Mirages are divided into lower ones, visible under the object, upper ones, above the object, and side ones.
18. Halo
Usually halos occur at high humidity or severe frost - before the halo was considered a phenomenon from above, and people expected something unusual. This is an optical phenomenon, a luminous ring around an object - a light source. The halo usually appears around the Sun or Moon, sometimes around other powerful light sources. There are many types of halo, but they are mainly caused by ice crystals in cirrus clouds at an altitude of 5-10 km in the upper troposphere. Sometimes in frosty weather, the halo is formed by crystals very close to the earth's surface. In this case, the crystals resemble shining gems.
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. Looks like a stripe from pink to orange color between the dark night sky below and the blue sky above, appearing before sunrise or after sunset, parallel at an altitude of 10 ° -20 ° to the horizon in a place opposite the Sun. In the belt of Venus, the atmosphere scatters the light from the setting (or rising) Sun, which looks redder, which is why the color is pink instead of blue.
16. Pearl clouds
Unusually high clouds (about 10-12 km), becoming visible at sunset.
15. Northern lights
The northern or polar lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are truly an amazing sight. This natural phenomenon can most often be observed in late autumn, winter or early spring.
14. Colored Moon
When the atmosphere is dusty, high humidity, or for other reasons, the Moon sometimes looks colored. The red moon is especially unusual.
13. Biconvex clouds
An extremely rare phenomenon that appears mainly before a hurricane. Opened just 30 years ago. Also called Mammatus clouds. clouds that are round and shaped like a biconvex lens - in the past they were sometimes confused with UFOs.
12. The fires of St. Elmo.
A fairly common phenomenon caused by increased electric field strength before a thunderstorm, during a thunderstorm, and immediately after. A discharge in the form of luminous beams or brushes (or a corona discharge) that occurs at the sharp ends of tall objects (towers, masts, lonely trees, sharp peaks of rocks, etc.) The first witnesses of this phenomenon were sailors who observed the fires of St. Elmo on masts and other vertical pointed objects.
11. Fire whirlwinds
The fire whirl is also known as the fire devil or fire tornado. This is a rare phenomenon in which fire, under certain conditions, depending on temperature and air currents, acquires a vertical vorticity. Fire whirlwinds often appear when bushes are burning. Vertically rotating pillars can reach 10 to 65 meters in height, but only for the last few minutes of their existence. And with a certain wind, they can be even higher.
10. Mushroom clouds.
Mushroom clouds are clouds of smoke in the shape of a mushroom, formed as a result of the combination of the smallest particles of water and earth, or as a result of a powerful explosion.
9. Light pillars.
One of the most common types of halo, a visual phenomenon, an optical effect that is a vertical strip of light stretching from the sun during its sunset or sunrise.
8. Diamond dust.
Frozen water droplets that scatter 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 water bodies and carries their contents over long distances.
6. Virga.
Rain that evaporates before reaching the ground. It is observed as a noticeable band of precipitation emerging from the cloud. In North America, it is most commonly seen in the southern United States and the Canadian prairies.
5. Bora.
Hurricane winds with many names. Strong (up to 40-60 m/s) cold wind in some coastal areas where low mountain ranges border the warm sea (for example, on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, on the Black Sea coast near Novorossiysk). Directed down slopes, usually observed in winter.
4. Fire rainbow.
Occurs when the sun's rays pass through high clouds. Unlike an ordinary rainbow, which can be observed almost anywhere in the world, a "fiery rainbow" is visible only in certain latitudes. In Russia, the visibility belt runs along the extreme south.
3. Green beam.
An extremely rare optical phenomenon, a flash of green light at the moment the solar disk disappears behind the horizon (usually sea) or appears from behind the horizon.
2. Ball lightning.
A rare natural phenomenon, a unified physical theory of the occurrence and course of which has not been presented to date. There are about 200 theories explaining the phenomenon, but none of them has received absolute recognition in the academic environment. It is widely believed that ball lightning is a phenomenon of electrical origin, of natural nature, that is, it is a special type of lightning that exists for a long time in the form of a ball that can move along an unpredictable, sometimes very surprising trajectory for eyewitnesses.
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Natural phenomena are usually characteristic of a certain season or climate zone. But there are also unusual natural phenomena in the world that are difficult to believe or explain.
Video about unusual natural phenomena
natural phenomena. What is it, what are
Except for expected events such as snow, rain, thunder or abnormal heat, the world is full of other less familiar natural phenomena for which scientists cannot explain. They are often impossible to repeat in the laboratory, and it is always good luck to record rare outbreaks of unexplained phenomena in nature.
Dangerous and rare natural phenomena
Rare natural phenomena are absolutely harmless or pose a danger to human life.
Voice of the frozen sea
In February 2012, as a result of severe frosts, the shores of the Black Sea near Odessa froze. Especially everyone was surprised this time by the roaring sound, we can only compare it with a bear's roar.
It was formed due to the pressure of the undercurrent on the formed block of ice, which cracked, creaked and froze again, creating sounds and a frightening ice sheet.
Asperatus
In 2010 in the atlas International classification clouds introduced a new type of clouds - asperatus. Their first photos appeared on the web in 2006. Asperatus is recognized by its external characteristics - heavy and frightening layered curly clouds that appear all over the planet, regardless of the time of year.
Saint Elmo's fire
Due to the voltage of the electric field in a certain place during a thunderstorm, a corona discharge occurs in the atmosphere - the fires of St. Elmo. The phenomenon was named by the sailors in honor of the sea patron, Elma. In order for the fires to appear, it is necessary to have a high strum of a wired object - the tops of rocks, trees, the masts of ships or multi-storey buildings.
blood tide
Near the east coast of Australia, frequent occurrences of "bloody" tides. In 2018, the water in the ocean turned red twice for several kilometers.
According to scientific explanations, such an anomaly is the result of:
- A high population of unicellular red organisms Alexandrium tamarense in the water. Only in 1 liter of water their number exceeds 130 thousand individuals.
- A huge amount of flagella algae from dinoflagellates.
- Release of toxins during algal blooms.
Red tides occur in all oceans: for the first time in 1799, it was recorded near Alaska. In the XX century. these tides were formed near Eastern Kamchatka several times: in Pavel Bay (1945), in Avacha Bay (1973).
The last red tide occurred in 2018 off the coast of Florida.
The tides are not dangerous for man and animal - except for eating a large amount of this water. But birds suffer from them - it is difficult to protect them from easy prey - dead fish that floats over time.
whirlpool
A whirlpool can occur anywhere in open water - in a river, sea or ocean. Its occurrence is the result of the collision of the flow with the recess, which blocks the free linear movement of the flow.
Whirlpools are unfaithful and catastrophic, so they are divided into several types:
| Types of whirlpools | Characteristics |
| Suvod | occurs on the river, are formed near the banks, dams and dams. Due to the calm current, such whirlpools are safe. |
| Mountain | strong swirling water, can drag a person or a small boat to the bottom. |
| Marine | occur during high and low tides. Quite dangerous to human life. |
| Permanent | occur with frequent regularity in the same place. |
| Seasonal | occur when there is a sudden change in water level. |
| Ringi | whirlpools in the ocean. In the XX century. a whirlpool measuring 100 km was recorded. Whirlpools in the ocean exist for a long time from a few days to several years. |
killer waves
Killer waves are a phenomenon similar to a tsunami, but exceeding it by several times: tsunamis cannot be higher than 20 m, while cases of recorded killer waves reached different sizes.
For example:
- 34th wave off the coast of California in 1933;
- A 21 m wave in the Atlantic in 1966;
- A 27 m killer wave was recorded in the North Atlantic in 1995.
Unusual natural phenomena, like a killer wave, not fiction. The main differences between these waves and tsunamis are that they are much higher, have a small width - up to 1 km, and most often are a single shock. The reason for the appearance of killer waves is considered to be a violation of the linearity of the waves in the ocean.
Spider web in Pakistan
The web in Pakistan is a web of spiders that grows on trees due to prolonged flooding in the country. Then millions of spiders, limited in movement, begin to twist around the trees, which become like a white cocoon. In 2014, its length was 183 m.
Volcanic ash lake
Lake Nahuel Huapi in Argentina is also called the lake of volcanic ash. It received such a nickname in 2011, after a strong eruption of the Puehue volcano in Chile. The volcanic ash that fell into the lake has not yet dissolved in water.
Firestorm
A fire tornado occurs as a result of the simultaneous accumulation high temperature, fires and cold air currents. The ideal conditions for a fiery tornado were the winter heating seasons in the 19th century. in big cities, in Moscow, Kyiv, Chicago, Dresden and London.
Sandstorm
The phenomenon of sandstorms has been known since antiquity. This is a strong wind that carries countless small particles of soil and sand over long distances, creating a cloud of dust and reducing visibility.
sandstorms typical for desert and semi-desert regions - in the Sahara, on the Arabian Peninsula and also in Mongolia and Kazakhstan.
Geysers
Geysers are natural sources of hot water that are ejected by pressure from the soil into the atmosphere by a fountain. Geologists consider them to be like a volcano.
In nature, there are permanent and irregular geysers.
There are geysers in areas of volcanic activity in countries such as Iceland, New Zealand, Chile and Japan. You can also find them in Kamchatka in Russia and in the northern states of the United States.
Ball lightning
Ball lightning - a rare type of lightning, has the shape of a ball with a diameter of up to 20 cm. They occur regardless of the season, and even in clear weather. This lightning has a completely different nature of origin than the usual one. She bursts when her temperature starts to go off scale, and shatters into sparks.
Fireballs come in red, orange, white and blue.
Tornado
A tornado (or tornado) occurs during hot weather or a summer thunderstorm, forms an atmospheric vortex. The phenomenon has the shape of an inverted cone, which touches the earth at one end and the clouds at the other.
In order for a tornado to occur, conditions are necessary during which warm, moist air comes into contact with cold, dry air in the clouds. Typically, tornadoes occur in the United States, Argentina, South Africa, Australia and European coastal countries.
Sound anomalies or abnormal sound phenomena in nature
The phenomenon of sound anomalies is associated with low-frequency stationary noises, often picked up by the human ear. Since it is rarely possible to record them on a dictaphone or establish the source of origin, it is far from always possible to establish their nature and causes.
Usually, each such anomalous sound has its own name and sound features: like a diesel engine, heavy equipment idling, or ordinary background sounds. This is all due to the fact that scientifically it has not yet been established general characteristics occurrence of these noises.
Unusual and interesting natural phenomena
Natural phenomena, unusual and unpredictable, can occur anywhere - on land, in water or in the air. They are unique, rarely repeated, or often hard to catch. But these phenomena always capture the attention of not only witnesses, but also scientists, skeptics and simply interested readers.
solar corona
The paradoxical phenomenon of the Sun in its heating. The Sun has a complex structure of different layers, and the usual visible round part of the Sun is thousands of times colder than the next ball, imperceptible under normal circumstances, the solar corona.
The solar corona can only be seen with special instruments during a total solar eclipse. Its shape is constantly changing, it all depends on the activity of the Sun itself.
Animal migration
An inexplicable fact of wildlife is why animals, mainly birds and fish, migrate from one region to another, and back.
Migrations can have seasonal and life cycles. Each species of animal has its own unique way of moving from one region to another. Scientists explain that the phenomenon of migration is the result of the evolution and adaptation of the animal world to natural conditions.
Jellyfish disappeared from Jellyfish Lake
In the archipelago of the Rocky Islands of Palau, in the Pacific Ocean near Australia, there is an ideal microclimate for breeding jellyfish - Lake Jellyfish. According to research, he is about 12 thousand years old. Throughout time, a millionth population of individuals has developed here. specific species jellyfish - golden and lunar.
Today there is a tendency to reduce their reproduction, by about 600 yew. Scientists explain this by changing the salinity of the lake and depriving the region of the necessary precipitation, and they are trying to maintain the necessary conditions technogenically so that the jellyfish do not become extinct.
ice circles
Usually, if a river with a slow current freezes, its surface resembles a perfectly flat surface. But if the river has a vortex current, which happens not so often, then ice symmetrical circles are obtained.
This phenomenon is more typical for the rivers of Scandinavia, North America and England, but sometimes it can also occur in Baikal.
Big Foot
Bigfoot is a mythical phenomenon of mountain and forest regions. Many lovers of mountain travel are looking for Bigfoot or his remnants all over the world, especially in the Himalayas. According to the scientific hypothesis, Bigfoot is the result of an alternative human evolution, in which this process had other forms.
Hurricane on Saturn
A hurricane on Saturn is a "hyxagon" phenomenon in the planet's atmosphere, recorded space station, which has been observing Saturn since 2004. Hyxagon is a stream in the shape of a hexagon above north pole Saturn, which resembles a hurricane. Its area is 30 thousand km.
This is a unique phenomenon of our solar planet. Scientists hypothetically believe that the very nature of Saturn is the cause of such a hurricane - an accumulation of gases, without a solid surface.
Monarch butterflies migration
It is easy to recognize Danaid butterflies - they have red wings with black stripes, with a span of up to 11 cm. The most common place for the population of these butterflies is North America.
The uniqueness of the migration of Danaid butterflies is in the distance and duration.
The migration is so long that it takes 4 generations of the butterflies themselves, where new individuals return to the place of their ancestors. How they do it - scientists have not yet understood. But it has already been established that Danaid monarch butterflies fly across the Atlantic. But these same Danaid monarch butterflies from Bermuda never migrate because of the ideal climate for them.
Animal Rain
Rain of animals is a thunderstorm, storm or tornado of unique strength, during which a strong wind raises the air of animals - more often these are fish, frogs and snakes. According to eyewitnesses, sometimes animals fell frozen to the surface of the earth - a sign that the wind raised them to the upper layers of the atmosphere, where the temperature is below zero.
Fireballs Naga
Nag fireballs are an unexplained phenomenon that occurs in October on the Mekong River in Thailand and Laos. These small balls rise from the depths of the river to a height of up to 20 m and then disappear. While scientists figure out how this is possible, local residents believe in the mythical nature of this phenomenon and arrange an annual festival in their honor.
Zone of Silence
The anomalous region in Mexico is called the Zone of Silence. Electrical, radio engineering and often clocks do not work here. Even planes stop working transmitters when they fly here. There is also a huge amount of meteorites falling here.
Recent studies have shown that the uniqueness of this area is evident in the huge amount of magnetite and uranium, which tend to suppress electromagnetic waves.
Flashes of light during an earthquake
In 2017, an earthquake in Mexico was accompanied by flashes of light. This happens here regularly - once every few years. Scientists have found that the cause of this celestial glow is rocks in which negatively charged oxygen atoms accumulate. During an earthquake, they are released through the cracks in the form of current, which ionizes the air and forms flashes.
volcanic light
Volcanic light, a natural phenomenon that occurs only on the island of Java in Indonesia. This is a successful hit of the first rays of the sun in the existing volcanic smoke and gives it the glow effect around the top of the volcanoes.
moon illusion
The natural optical phenomenon of the moon illusion visually increases its size as the moon approaches the earth. Although it is always at the same distance, when the Moon is high in the sky, it seems to be 2 times smaller than when it descends to the horizon. Until now, scientists cannot understand how this illusion is possible.
Synchronous blinking fireflies
A natural phenomenon - an unusual synchronous blinking of fireflies - is when in the forest in the evening these beetles flicker alternately on different trees. Such a spectacle can be seen far from every forest - out of 2 thousand species of fireflies, only a few flicker synchronously.
It is interesting that only male beetles participate in this illumination. Such fireflies are found in the forests of India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.
Origin of the Universe
The very phenomenon of the existence of the Earth, the solar system and the entire Galaxy is not known at all. There are dozens of ideas about how the world, or "Universe", came into existence.
In addition to the most famous religious hypotheses of Christianity, Buddhism and Judaism, great physicists and philosophers, such as A. Einstein, I. Kant and A. Friedman, also developed considerations. So far, no model of the origin of the universe has become the most plausible.
Bermuda Triangle
The Bermuda Triangle is an unexplored natural phenomenon in the Atlantic Ocean, where ships regularly disappear. It got its name from the line of a conditional triangle between Puerto Rico, San Juan and Bermuda, where thunderstorms, storms and cyclones often occur, or equipment stops working for no reason.
Loch Ness monster
The Loch Ness monster is a mythical creature in which the Scots stubbornly believe. It got its name from Loch Ness where it is said to live. According to the latest satellite imagery, a huge marine animal was seen in the lake, which had 2 pairs of flippers and a tail.
Together with Bigfoot, this natural phenomenon is actively discussed by scientists who are trying to find traces of its existence.
witch circles
Natural phenomena, unusual and inexplicable, can be found among the desert in the African country of Namibia. There, it is not clear where round bald spots, “Witch Circles”, formed on an area of 2.5 thousand km2. Their size in some places reaches 15 m in diameter. Instead of any vegetation in the desert, circles of unknown origin symmetrically cover the entire surface.
The scientists' hypothesis about their occurrence is that it is the reaction of the soil to high level radiation in the region, and also the constant release of plant toxins, and the huge presence of sand termites.
moving stones
You can understand that the stones in the California National Park move along an elongated trail for several tens and hundreds of meters, which they leave behind. The weight of such moving cobblestones can be at least 300 kg. While the stones are moving in different directions.
There are several hypotheses as to how this might be. For example, due to magnetic fields or sandstorms.
Whales aground
A well-known case in 2017 in the Khabarovsk Territory, when a bowhead whale got stuck in shallow water while escaping killer whales. In the open air, he lay for almost a day, and in the evening, at high tide, he was able to sail. The life of the whale was saved by the fact that from time to time rescuers poured water on it so that its skin would not dry out and crack.
The lights of the Hessdalen valley
In the Hessdalen valley, in southern Norway, since the Second World War, unusual lights of different colors have been regularly seen in the sky, which appear in different places. They look like a luminous ball that slowly floats in the air. Scientists explain such phenomena as the result of a huge amount of minerals in the valley, such as sulfur, zinc and copper.
Moroccan goats grazing in the trees
In Morocco, goats in trees are a common sight. They always graze here because of the lack of pastures in the country. Such a phenomenon can be seen in the Atlas Mountains. At the same time, goats in Morocco are not some kind of special kind that can balance well in the air.
These are the most common goats that adapt well for the sake of survival.
Most often, they eat argon trees, while spreading the seed and thereby contributing to the greening of the country.
Black Sun of Denmark
The unusual phenomenon of the "Black Sun" of Denmark is a cluster in a close circle of songbirds. You can see the phenomenon of how birds create a circle in a dance in the spring at sunset, in southwestern Denmark in the swamps. They spend 1.5 months in these swamps. These birds belong to the common starling family, and live in North America, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia and eat in many ways similar to thrushes.
moon rainbow
A lunar or night rainbow is a color transfusion of a familiar rainbow, only at night, and under the conditions of the necessary phase of the moon in the sky, the presence of rain near a high waterfall at night.
This rainbow is found in all areas where there are waterfalls and heavy rainfall - in the state of Kentucky (USA), in Hawaii and the Caucasus, in southern Australia and Zimbabwe.
biconvex clouds
Lenticular clouds are a recently recorded natural phenomenon, when many cumulus clouds create several storey clouds in space.
They are divided into 2 types:
- Inflorescence, resemble a dense cluster of round clouds next to each other, which create a continuous cloudy canvas.
- Lenticular- these are oblong and huge clouds that rise symmetrically above each other.
These harmless but voluminous biconvex clouds are often a harbinger of hurricanes or tornadoes. Also, such clouds can provoke the appearance of ball lightning, which is why the aircraft must avoid falling into such a cloud.
star Rain
Star rain or meteor shower is a spectacular sight that occurs during the invasion of the Earth's atmosphere by a huge number of meteorites (more than 1 thousand per hour). These shooting stars do not reach the earth, they burn up during the flight in the atmosphere. This is possible due to the small size of the meteorite itself, which is strongly erased by the air during the flight.
Halo
A halo is an optical illusion that occurs around luminous objects - the Sun, the Moon, ice crystals, a light bulb or a lantern.
Such a vision has a simple physical and optical explanation - it is the result of broken light from a source.
Depending on the source itself, the halo may be round or oblong; symmetrical and asymmetrical. Although halos are harmless natural phenomena, if they occur in the sun, their bright light can harm the eyes.
Northern lights
The northern lights are the glow of the upper layer of the earth's atmosphere from a collision with plasma. This happens as a result of interaction with charged particles of the solar wind. The northern lights are the radiation of atoms, each color refers to a specific substance
They arise in the magnetosphere - the space between the planet and other magnetized bodies. Therefore, the phenomenon of northern lights is observed mainly in the high latitudes of the Earth. Spring and autumn are more suitable for auroras, when a large amount of energy accumulates.
Such glows usually appear in violet, green and ultraviolet colors, in the form of moving rays and bands. The duration of the Northern Lights is different - from a few minutes to several hours.
Brocken ghosts
Brocken's ghost is the optical effect of an increase in one's own shadow due to broken light due to clouds. This phenomenon got its name from the German mountain Brocken, where such optical illusions are always easy to contemplate.
red waves
The natural phenomenon of red waves occurs on the southeast coast of India. Unusual waves are the result of hurricanes, during which the effect of red flashes is formed above the waves. Scientists explain the occurrence of red waves by the decay of water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen atoms under the influence of wind, the speed of which is 200 km/h. At the same time, the waves make a sound similar to a growl.
Lightning Catatumbo
Lightning Catatumbo - a long and continuous occurrence of countless lightning in Venezuela, at the intersection of the river and the lake. These lightning strikes occur between May and September at night.
Studies have proven that this area has the highest rate of lightning occurrence in the world.
According to meteorological data, thunderstorms occur here 200 days a year. Catatumbo lightning has a very high charge and is usually visible at a distance of 400 km.
Penitentes
A natural phenomenon, unusual in the form of ice figures, is found in the mountain peaks of the Andes. There are ideal conditions under which blade-shaped snow figures form. Dry wind and very dry snow, along with direct cold sunlight, contribute to the emergence of these meter-high ice figures.
Mirages
Mirage is an optical phenomenon of a fracture of light on the verge of a collision of two or more layers of air, which have different temperatures and densities. The result of such a fracture is the actual vision of real and imaginary distant objects.
Mirages are divided into several types - they are classified according to different physical conditions of occurrence. Although everyone knows about desert mirages, they also occur at very low temperatures in Alaska.
blue lava
In Indonesia, on the island of Java, the volcanic eruption is unique - it has lava of blue color, the blue flame of which can rise up to 5 m. Scientists explain this phenomenon by the high concentration of sulfur dioxide in the bowels of the earth (the temperature of which exceeds 600 degrees Celsius).
This gas receives a liquid form from interaction with liquid sulfur.
Cloud Break Zone
A natural phenomenon from a continuous cirrocumulus sheet of clouds can have an oval-shaped “hole” in it. This is called the cloud break zone. An unusual hole is obtained when the temperature of the cloud drops sharply below zero. Because of this, the formed crystals evaporate, and a hole is obtained in their place.
Article formatting: Lozinsky Oleg
Video about unusual natural phenomena
13 most incredible natural phenomena:
The weather can be good or bad, but its anomalies always fascinate us. We have selected the most unusual natural phenomena that occur around the globe and are extremely rare.
(Total 19 photos and videos)
Brinicle (finger of death)
We are used to seeing icicles hanging from rooftops. However, in the Arctic there are special icicles that hang under water and are a mortal danger for the inhabitants of the ocean floor. This phenomenon was discovered almost 30 years ago, but it was only in 2011 that the BBC channel team managed to film the process of its birth.
The formation of this extraordinary icicle is easily explained by science. Salty sea water freezes a little differently and turns not into an icy firmament, but into something similar to a porous wet washcloth. Icebergs are literally riddled with small channels filled with salt water.
In the northern latitudes, the air temperature on the surface can be -20 degrees Celsius, while the water temperature is much higher - about -2 degrees. Heat from ocean water rises and melts the iceberg, forming new ice. Salt from this ice is concentrated into a saturated saline solution and exits through shallow channels into the ocean. The density of the brine is higher and the temperature is lower, so it rushes to the bottom in a continuous stream and freezes the sea water around it. In a few hours, the stream is covered with a thin ice crust that looks like a stalactite.
Having reached the bottom, the "finger of death" does not stop, but continues to spread along the bottom. In 15 minutes, such a structure is capable of destroying all unhurried living organisms in an area of several meters. It was for this that the fatal icicle was called the "icy finger of death."
tubular clouds
There are a large number of clouds that have a special shape and special causes. Omniform or tubular clouds look strange and unusual. They look either like sections of pipes, or like a lot of suspended balls, the hue of which changes from white to blue-gray. The color depends on the thickness of the cloud.
How are they obtained? Clouds usually have a flat base. Warm moist air cools and condenses into water droplets. This occurs at a certain temperature, and its decrease in the atmosphere is associated with altitude. Droplets grow and form an opaque cloud.
However, under special conditions (moist air above and dry below), cloud pockets begin to form in the atmosphere, filled with large water droplets or even ice crystals, which, under their weight, literally fall into clean air. This behavior of clouds is associated with the turbulent movement of air masses. And the turbulent movement of air indicates the proximity of a powerful thunderstorm front.
Like any relief surface, tubular clouds are especially spectacular under regime lighting, at dusk or dawn. They are mainly observed in the tropics, but also appear in more northern latitudes.
misty rainbow
A hazy rainbow is another optical phenomenon in the atmosphere, similar to the well-known rainbow. The phenomenon is a wide shiny white arc. However, this type of rainbow is neutral in color and can be seen not during rain, but during fog.
A hazy rainbow requires strict conditions to occur. The water droplets from which the fog is formed must have a certain size - about 0.02 mm. However, due to light diffraction, the split spectrum is mixed and a uniform white color is obtained.
Due to edge effects, the inner radius of the rainbow can be colored purple, while the outer one has an orange tint.
Lightning Catatumbo
Lightning is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the northwest of Venezuela, where the river of the same name flows into Lake Maracaibo. Regular thunderstorm activity is observed above the confluence: lightning in the clouds is almost 200 days a year, continuous thunderstorm sessions last about 10 hours.
This is where the warm and humid air masses from the Caribbean meet the cold air that descends from the Andes, resulting in the formation of eddies. The decaying organic matter of numerous swamps releases methane gas into the atmosphere. It improves the electrical conductivity in the cloud, resulting in lightning.
For a long time given place served as a guide for sailors - it can be seen from a distance of more than 400 km. The Venezuelan government wants to make the unique location a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is believed that this is the largest natural ozone generator.
moon rainbow
This phenomenon is much easier to see in a fantasy quest than in reality. Many factors are required: the full moon should be low, the sky should be dark, and a powerful waterfall should be located opposite the luminary or it should rain.
And still you will see the lunar rainbow completely white. The point is that even with the most best conditions its brightness is extremely small and human physiology allows you to see only a white rainbow.
This is where a modern camera that shoots at a slow shutter speed can come to the rescue. An exposure of 15-30 seconds will allow the sensor to collect enough light, and the rainbow can be seen already in color, but only in the photograph.
Gloria is another phenomenon associated with the diffraction of light in cloud or fog droplets. This weather phenomenon can only be detected when the light source is behind the back, and the light reflected from the cloud returns directly to the observer. Gloria can be observed in the mountains as her own silhouette or during the flight as the shadow of an airplane on a cloud.
The rainbow halo around one's own shadow was interpreted by Buddhists as the degree of human enlightenment. The seemingly huge and living shadow disturbed the Germans who climbed into the mountains.
Coastal cappuccino
The sea can turn into foam in any part of the planet, but most often this happens in the southern hemisphere. In a few minutes, the entire coast, houses and sun loungers disappear in a sudden foam that slowly dissolves on the sand.
For the appearance of foam in sea water there should be a large accumulation of algae, salt and some waste. These ingredients act as surfactants (like the shampoo in your bathroom) and reduce the surface tension at the water/air interface. Well, strong currents and wind do not cost anything to whip all the ingredients into a rich foam and take it out to meet the dumbfounded swimmers.
While foaming happens only occasionally. But with further ocean pollution, it can become permanent.
Sprites, elves and "blue jets"
In addition to lightning, which we see from the Earth, powerful flashes occur above thunderclouds, directed into space. They are divided into red sprites, "blue jets" and elves. The shape and color of flashes depend on the height at which they occur.
Unlike lightning, these flashes are characterized by a pronounced blue or red color and cover distances up to 100 km in length and diameter. This makes them an element of space weather, as aurora borealis and meteors fly in these areas.
This phenomenon is poorly understood for one reason: from the Earth, flashes can only be observed at a low altitude. Now they are being studied from the ISS. According to some reports, strong electricity emissions can “drive out” ozone from the protective layer.
Waterspout
Waterspouts look like small water tornadoes and usually appear under a cloud above the water surface. Although from the outside it may seem that liquid is literally sucked out of the water, the tornado is located above the surface and consists of water droplets formed during condensation.
Occasionally strong waterspouts occur, but most of them are weak and are caused by the collision of atmospheric dynamics, which forms a vortex.
Firestorm
This natural phenomenon appears extremely rarely and under certain environmental conditions (temperature, air currents). It occurs when a column of hot, rising air interacts with or causes a fire on the ground. It is a vertical whirlpool of fire in the air.
morning glory
Morning Gloria is a rare meteorological phenomenon, a "storm collar" that forms on the edge of an advancing cold front. The downward flow of air forces the warm, moist air to rise and cool - as a result, it cools below the dew point and turns into a cloud.
This occurs along the entire length of the front: the cloud is up to 1000 km long and, moreover, rotates around the longitudinal axis. The rolling speed of the cloud can reach 60 km/h, which portends heavy winds and bad weather in the direction of the "collar".
According to the nature of the origin, the morning glory can be considered a tornado that lies on its side. It appears regularly in the autumn in northern Australia, occasionally in other parts of the world.
Volcanic lightning
Volcanic activity provides a very "nurturing" environment for impressive discharges, and in several ways. The incredible amount of ejected volcanic dust and gas creates a dense stream of charged particles.
This causes electrostatic ionization and, as a result, very powerful and very frequent lightning that tries to neutralize the charge. Two types of such lightning are observed: 1) striking from the crater and associated with electrical processes in the magma, 2) occurring in clouds and associated with the friction of volcanic ash.
However, the processes of thunderstorm formation in volcanoes are very complex and depend on many factors: temperature, eruption height, dust dispersion and composition. Due to the large amount of particulate volcanic ash, such thunderstorms are also called dirty thunderstorms.
Most of us have seen these natural phenomena only in films or on the Discovery Channel. I represent detailed description with photographs of the most incredible natural phenomena. You can read about the phenomena that I talked about earlier by clicking on this one.
1. Water bloom: in more detail we considered neon lakes
When the ocean, air, and temperature conditions permit, ocean phytoplankton reproduce fairly quickly, creating a thick, visible layer on its surface. This phenomenon, called a water bloom, looks rather unsightly during the day, but in parts of California and other places where there are bioluminescent nightlights, the water bloom is a truly spectacular sight. This species of phytoplankton glows blue when agitated, turning the dark ocean into a giant lava lamp. You can watch the waves begin to glow on impact as they ripple across the sand, and the earth begins to shine under your feet, and if you dive underwater, you will see an amazing radiance in all its glory.
2. Bioluminescence
Bioluminescence does not only occur in water. In late summer, an uncanny glow can be seen in many of the world's forests, where bioluminescent fungi grow on damp, rotting bark. Bioluminescence can be observed in different parts of the world, but the greatest diversity occurs in the tropics, where the moisture in the forests promotes the growth of fungi. A new species of glow-in-the-dark mushroom has been discovered in Sao Paulo, Brazil. If you want to admire this phenomenon, then plan to go to the forest during the wettest period and head away from light sources that can dim the faint glow.
3. Fire rainbow
Another natural phenomenon that occurs in summer is called the fire rainbow, and occurs when sunlight strikes frozen ice crystals in cirrus clouds at high altitude. Since there is no rain during a fiery rainbow, scientists prefer to call it the more accurate name of a near-horizontal arc. Since this phenomenon requires the presence of cirrus clouds, and the sun must be very high in the sky, it can often be observed at latitudes closer to the equator. In Los Angeles, conditions allow you to observe a fiery rainbow for six months of the year, and in London for about two months.
4. Pearly clouds
For those of us who are far from the equator, there are many more reasons to look at the sky. Mother-of-pearl clouds are quite rare, but most often they appear when it is still dark outside before dawn or after sunset. Due to their extremely high altitude, they reflect sunlight from below the horizon, glowing brightly for those who watch them from below. In the lower stratosphere, where mother-of-pearl clouds are located, it is so dry that it often prevents the formation of clouds, but the harsh cold of the polar nights makes it possible to see this most beautiful phenomenon. You can see mother-of-pearl clouds in winter at high latitudes, such as in Iceland, Alaska, northern Canada and very rarely in the UK.
5. Snow rollers
Snow rolls form when a thick layer of snow falls on top of the ice. At certain temperatures and wind speeds, chunks of snow can break loose and begin to curl. As they roll along the ground like winter tumbleweeds, they pick up more snow along the way. The inner layers tend to be more brittle, allowing the wind to easily blow them away, leaving large natural snow donuts. Since a certain temperature and wind speed are needed to create this effect, snow rolls are rare, but can be seen in North America and the UK.
6. Basalt columns
Natural volcanic formation - basalt columns look like they were made by man. The hexagonal columns form naturally when a thick layer of lava cools rapidly, shrinking and creating cracks in the surface of new rock formations. Unusual geological formations can be seen in all corners of the world. The most notable examples of basalt columns are Giant's Causeway in Ireland and the Devil's Postpile National Monument in California.
7. Rain of animals: we examined it in more detail
While the small town of Yoro in Honduras hosts a Fish Rain Festival every year, there are still quite a few actual eyewitnesses to the phenomenon. However, in general, such a phenomenon has been reported in different parts of the world for many centuries. Most cases of animals falling from the sky have included fish, frogs, or small aquatic animals, although there have been reports of birds, mice, and even chunks of meat falling. Although such a phenomenon is extremely rare, most cases are easily explained. The most obvious explanation is tornadoes, during which a whirlwind lifts small animals from the water, carrying them over long distances until they fall on your head. If you want to witness the rain of animals, then you should go to places close to the water during big storms.
8. Wavy clouds
Recently discovered cloud formations, the so-called wavy clouds (Asperatus clouds) are so rare that they were not included in the classification until 2009. Ominous and stormy, these clouds disintegrate rather quickly before causing a storm. As with most wavy clouds, these clouds form when eddies or oncoming air masses ruthlessly churn the lower layers of clouds, resulting in bizarre shapes and formations. Such clouds are more common on the plains in the US and can be observed in the morning or mid-afternoon during thunderstorms.
9. Green beam
The famous and elusive Green Beam is a rare meteorological phenomenon that occurs during sunrise and sunset. During these periods, the sun's light passes through large layers of the atmosphere, creating a prism effect. Of course, this explanation is not as exciting as the maritime legends that surround this phenomenon. But you can consider yourself lucky if you managed to observe this phenomenon. To see the green beam, try watching the sun rise or set on the horizon on a clear day. An ocean or prairie horizon is best suited for this purpose. The green beam lasts only a fraction of a second, so don't blink. In my opinion, this is very similar to the return of the soul from the other world in the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
10. False sun
When the sun is near the horizon and there are ice crystals in the air, you may see a few bright rainbow spots on both sides of the sun. Always to the right and left of the sun along the horizon, these halos faithfully follow the sun across the sky. While this atmospheric phenomenon can happen anytime, anywhere, the effect is usually quite subtle. When sunlight passes through cirrus clouds at just the right angle, these patches become as bright as the sun. False suns are most visible when the sun is low in the sky in colder regions where there are many ice crystals in the sky.
11. Double rainbow
The same forces that lead to the formation of an ordinary rainbow can also lead to the creation of a double rainbow. Sometimes, sunlight is reflected in the raindrops not once, but twice, resulting in a second rainbow that is behind the brighter first rainbow. It is best to observe this phenomenon when the sky is still dark and filled with clouds, as the dark background allows you to see the more vague colors of the second rainbow.
12. Striped icebergs
Icebergs, as a rule, are not uniform. Some icebergs in the polar regions are distinguished by their color bands, standing out from the arctic whites and blues. When water on an iceberg melts and refreezes, dirt and other particles can get trapped between the new layers of ice, causing colored streaks to form on their surface. Icebergs may show several colored bands. Blue streaks appear when water enters between layers of ice and freezes so quickly that air bubbles don't have time to form. When an iceberg breaks and falls into the ocean, algae and other materials present in the water can cause green and yellow streaks to appear.
13. Lightning Catatumbo
Quite a mysterious phenomenon, the Catatumbo lightning in Venezuela is known for its continuous discharges. This incessant lightning bolt can be seen from a distance and has often been noted for its ability to aid sailors in navigation. Since Catatumbo lightning strikes about 140-160 nights a year, you have a good chance of seeing them. They occur mainly in one place - above the confluence of the Catatumbo River around Lake Maracaibo.
14. Gravitational wave
Waves occur not only in water, but also in the sky. When the air is pushed up by the more stable layer of the atmosphere, it can cause a ripple effect, just like what happens when you throw a rock into a pond. For a gravitational wave to occur, interference must occur in the atmosphere, such as the updraft of air from a thunderstorm. According to recent research, gravity waves can concentrate and intensify tornadoes, so if you happen to see them, you should first take care of the shelter.
15. Moeraki Boulders
The Moeraki Boulders are spherical stones that were naturally excavated from mudstone, a dense clayey rock on the New Zealand coast. People discovered these giants through erosion, but they acquired their own spherical shape for a different reason. It is believed that boulders formed millions of years ago on the ocean floor, much like pearls formed in oysters - layers of sedimentary rocks and materials crystallized around a central core. Over the course of millions of years, they have grown to the gigantic proportions we can see today. Moeraki boulders have been found along the south coast of New Zealand, but they can also be seen in various parts of South America.
Ancient man respected and revered nature as a deity. No wonder, because the primitive brain was often unable to explain some natural phenomena and perceived them as a miracle. Modern people are trying to find a rational explanation for everything they see, but the most unusual and rare natural phenomena still amaze the imagination, delight, and even frighten.
Top most unusual natural phenomena
Saint Elmo's fires
A unique natural phenomenon that was first noticed and described by sailors. It was they who from time to time observed beautiful luminous balls or tassels on the masts and other vertical objects of their ships. Of course, earlier this spectacle was perceived as a miracle and promised success to sailors, because St. Elmo is the patron saint of sailors. However, in our time, the fires of St. Elmo have an explanation.These light sources are due to high voltage electric field. Accordingly, most often you can see these lights during a thunderstorm, snowstorm or storm. In our time, these lights are also observed on the skin of aircraft that have fallen into a cloud of volcanic ash. Sometimes this phenomenon can disable even various electrical appliances.
biconvex clouds
Biconvex clouds are a stunningly beautiful sight. Most often they can be observed around mountains and high peaked hills. At first glance, such clouds resemble huge flying saucers, lenses or berets. Quite often this phenomenon is observed in the region of the mountains Shasta and Fujiyama. The reason for this is that there is a special way of moving air in these areas. 
By the way, biconvex clouds look frozen and motionless. So they can "hover" over the mountain for several days in a row, until the wind or changing weather conditions cause them to disperse.
Polar Lights
Sometimes the aurora borealis is called "northern". It is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful sights in the world. You can contemplate this beauty only in the northern regions, close to the poles. As a rule, the aurora has a bluish color, rarely you can see aurora that shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow. 
This effect arises due to the processes that occur in the upper layers of the atmosphere, when charged particles pass near the lines of force of the earth's geomagnetic field. Radiance is observed on average from several hours to several days.
Mirages
This phenomenon can shock even a person with a strong psyche. And this, despite the fact that the nature of mirages has long been scientifically substantiated. Nevertheless, mystical meaning is still attributed to mirages. But in fact, this is just an optical illusion and a special optical effect, which is achieved due to a change in the vertical density of heated air. When certain conditions coincide, "visions" appear on the horizon. 
One of the varieties of mirage is the Fata Morgana. This is a very complex optical phenomenon that is extremely rare. Fata Morgana includes several forms of mirages, which are repeatedly distorted and quickly replace each other. This creates bizarre pictures that can drive any traveler crazy.
Gloria
Gloria is an optical effect that can be observed if you build a fire at night in the mountains. At the same time, the weather should be with low clouds. If the conditions match, a kind of “halo” will appear above your head, and you can see your own shadow on the clouds. 
This natural effect was especially reverent in the East. Here the gloria is called the "light of the Buddha." It has long been believed that the appearance of a colored halo around the shadow of a person is evidence of his closeness to the Buddha.
Ball lightning
Each of us has observed the usual linear lightning, which is accompanied by thunder. However, it is far from so often possible to "meet" ball lightning or a fireball. A very rare phenomenon, on average, only about 2-3 ball lightning falls on a thousand ordinary lightning. The ball, ranging in color from yellow to scarlet, floats in the air for several seconds along a chaotic trajectory and disappears. 
It happens that such "guests" appear in houses or planes. To name the exact cause of occurrence and characterize this phenomenon, scientists still have not been able to.
The most unusual natural phenomenon in the world: a fiery tornado
One of the most unusual and, at the same time, deadly phenomenon is a fiery tornado. This is a process in the atmosphere, when several scattered sources of ignition are combined into one powerful tornado. At the same time, the air masses above the tornado heat up and become less dense, which allows the fire element to rise up, burning everything in its path. In height, the tornado can reach about 5 kilometers! The pressure of hot air reaches hurricane speeds, and the temperature rises to 1000 degrees Celsius. Everything in the area "sucks" the fire. 
Fortunately, this is a rather rare occurrence. However, each appearance of a fiery tornado remained in the annals of history. This is the Great Fire of London in 1666, the fire in Moscow in 1812, the Great Fire of Chicago in 1871 and other terrible cases of violence of the fiery element.
Not only natural phenomena can be beautiful, but also creations of human hands. .
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