Cloud Iridescence: The Science Behind Rainbow-Colored Clouds
Cloud iridescence, a captivating meteorological phenomenon, was recently observed in Indonesia. This event occurs when sunlight passes through tiny water droplets or ice crystals in thin clouds, causing light to scatter in a process known as diffraction. Unlike rainbows, which form through refraction and internal reflection in larger raindrops, iridescent clouds display vibrant colors due to the interference of light waves. This interference causes different wavelengths of light, such as red, green, and blue, to travel slightly different paths and intensify at various angles, resulting in colorful patches in the sky. The phenomenon is most visible when the sun is near the cloud, the cloud is thin, and the droplets are small and uniform in size. 
