Over the past few weeks, people in Scotland have been able to witness a stunning sight. Noctilucent clouds, which are rare and usually only seen from June to August, have been appearing in the skies above the country. The clouds are formed high up in the Earth’s atmosphere, in an area called the mesosphere, around 83 kilometres above the Earth’s surface. The Latin name for noctilucent clouds is “night shining”, because they appear to glow in the sky, and usually have a blue or silvery colour.
According to the Met Office, noctilucent clouds are usually only seen from the northern UK, so people in Scotland have been particularly lucky to witness them. Photos of the clouds have been posted on social media, with people from all over the country sharing their pictures of the beautiful phenomenon. Images of the clouds have been taken from Aberdeen, Wick, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, and Stornoway, among other places.
Noctilucent clouds are formed when tiny ice crystals form around space dust particles, which enter the Earth’s atmosphere. The clouds can only be seen in the summer, because this is when the mesosphere is at its coldest. Scientists believe that noctilucent clouds are becoming more frequent, and that this may be a result of climate change. As the Earth gets warmer, the mesosphere is getting colder, which could be causing more ice crystals to form in the area, leading to more sightings of noctilucent clouds.
Despite their beauty, noctilucent clouds are a sign of a changing climate, and are a reminder that we need to take action to combat climate change. Scientists are continuing to study the mesosphere and the formation of noctilucent clouds, in order to gain a better understanding of the impact of climate change on the Earth’s atmosphere. In the meantime, people in Scotland can continue to enjoy the stunning sight of these rare and beautiful clouds
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