From Tracie: Fire Rainbows

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Fire Rainbows

A beautiful blue sky was begging to be photographed yesterday.

This palm tree picture says, "I live in Florida."

Blue Sky, Clouds, and Palm Trees

I saw something over on the left, peeking out from behind a cloud.

Something Like A Rainbow

Not a rainbow exactly, but definitely something rainbow-ish.

Clouds With Streams Of Light On A Blue Sky

When I went looking for it online, I found fire rainbows.

Fire Rainbow

Rainbow Science: A rainbow is caused by light that is refracted and dispersed when it passes through a prism or an asymmetrical rain drop.

A fire rainbow is caused by light that is defracted when it passes through a symmetrical water droplet. The defracted light manifests itself in a disc-like shape instead of the curved arc of a rainbow. It is rare to find fire rainbows because you have to have water particles in the air that are symmetrical and are approximately the same size.

Fire Rainbow and Spherical Cloud

Another one appeared behind the cloud pillar on the right.
(click on the picture to make it larger)

Two Fire Rainbows

About twenty minutes after I took these, there was a big storm and all the fire rainbows left. I should say, "after we took these," because Thomas captured some of them.

Fire Rainbow Laying On Clouds

I love this one, because it looks like the clouds are a dam holding back a river of rainbow that is threatening to spill over.

Fire Rainbow With Palm Trees

Do you pull out your camera when you see a rainbow?


40 comments:

  1. I do pull out a camera every time I see a rainbow. Without fail. THESE pics are awesome! I didn't know about fire rainbows. Thank you for the education! =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are so very welcome.

      I pegged you as a rainbow picture taker. It must be your wonder-awesomeness that gave it away ;-)

      Delete
  2. Tracie, unbelievable Florida clouds. I know, I too live there. Blessings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Florida has the best clouds! Blessings to you.

      Delete
  3. Wow. I've never seen one of those before and I certainly didn't know about fire rainbows. That is really incredible looking. I think I'm going to have to keep my eye out on that sky a little more often. Although, here in my neck of the woods, we've had a rainy, rainy day. As you well know, highly unusual to have rain all day. I like it. It's rather cozy, but I wouldn't want to have rain like this on a regular basis. I'll take our tropical thunderstorms any day. Violent but short lasting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We had that rainy, rainy day too. In fact, our power actually went out for about an hour...and no internet *sob* with no power. Of course, after you've lived through a hurricane and several weeks without power (other than the loss of internet), an hour is no big deal.

      I'm ready for the rainy season to end.

      Delete
  4. Those are glorious and you taught me something new today! :) Never heard of a fire rainbow before.

    I stepped outside today and was just overwhelmed with the crisp cool (but definitely NOT cold) Autumn day! Made me smile and say "thank you!"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Crisp, cool Autumn day. That sounds perfectly lovely.

      Delete
  5. Oops! I posted under the wrong Google Identity. Some days I don't know who I am or what I am doing -- haha!

    I'll repeat, however, just beautiful my friend!

    :-)
    Traci

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha. I don't always know who I am, either.

      I'm glad you liked the pictures. =)

      Delete
  6. I had never heard of fire rainbows before. I am filing that away for future reference, to share with short ones:)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love clouds, and cloud photos. This totally made my day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay! I love making your day.

      Cloud photos are the best.

      Delete
  8. I've been taking pics of these all summer and had no idea what they actually were. You scienced me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is so awesome! I want to see some of your fire rainbow pictures.

      (and I'm totally going to tell Katarina, "I scienced you" at the end of every science lesson now)

      Delete
  9. Oh! You have solved a conumdrum for me!

    Last year I was on a plane circling London and we kept passing a little rainbow circle. I wanted to take a picture, but we were expected to land any minute (a very loooooooooooong any minute that took about half an hour) so I didn't pull out my camera. Now I heartily wish I had... but at least I know what it was I was seeing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love solving conundrums!

      I would also love to visit London one day.

      Delete
  10. I didn't know about fire rainbows either. What cool photos!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I always see rainbows when I am in the car, and by the time I get the phone out, we are miles and miles up the road and the rainbow is no longer visible. Thank you for sharing yours!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know that pain. It is always tough to catch great stuff seen out of car windows. Although, I have pulled over to the side of the road for photographic reasons more than once.

      Delete
  12. So Beautiful--I've never seen this before!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you enjoyed them. It was my first time seeing them, too.

      Delete
  13. I have seen those several times but never knew what they were. Now I know. Of course I take pictures of rainbows..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Of course you do! =)

      I hadn't even seen them before yesterday.

      Delete
  14. This was AWESOME! Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful pics..

    ReplyDelete
  15. so awesome. i totally pull out my camera when i see a rainbow. because i'm cool like that. great shots!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Beautiful photos. I always have my camera with me, but sadly the only decent rainbow photo I've ever managed to get was with my really old pink razr phone. I've never had any luck with finding rainbows or getting good photos with my good camera.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks CA! Getting good rainbow shots is always hard, because you can't plan for them.

      Delete
  17. Tracie, I'm so glad to find you again. Great blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Tami. I'm glad you found me again too!

      Delete
  18. So beautiful! Well captured.

    I used to photograph rainbows. Now I just drink it all in with my eyes.

    Happy Sharefest. Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Drinking them in with your eyes is a great plan too!

      Delete
  19. i have seen similar of this in Goa, India in the month of june.

    ReplyDelete