From a spinning vortex made up entirely of fire to rainbows forming in the dead of night we countdown the 10 Craziest Natural Phenomena Around The World
10. Frost Flowers
This beautiful phenomenon happens in fall or early winter, the freezing temperatures causes the sap in long stemmed plants to expand. This expansion causes thin cracks to form, water escapes and then freezes instantly upon contact with the air. As more and more water escapes and freezes, thin petals form and create amazing flower like figures.
9. Catatumbo
Lightning can be witnessed in the Catatumbo River Region in Northern Venezuela. It’s not that different than regular thunderstorms found around the world, except this storm happens in the same place night after night. Scientist Nelson Falcon conducted several studies, and identified methane produced by the swamps in the area as a major cause of the phenomenon.
8. Tidal Bores
Occur along a coast where a river empties into the ocean. The Tidal bore is a strong tide that pushes up the river, causing out flowing rivers to flow back upstream as the tide comes in. Only occurring a few places in the world, this phenomenon attracts surfers that will try to ride the incoming wave for as long as possible.
7. Moonbows
This rare anomaly occurs at night when light reflected off the surface of the moon reflects off moisture laden clouds. The perfect time for viewing a lunar rainbow is when the moon is at it’s brightest phase, the sky is very dark and the moon is low in the sky.
6. Ball Lightning
This unexplained atmospheric electrical phenomenon was thought to be an urban myth until the 1960’s. Usually associated with thunderstorms witnesses report glowing orbs that vary in size and color and can last for up to a minute. In 2012 scientists in China were observing a thunderstorm and were able to record ball lightning for the first time in history.
5. Fire Rainbows
A misleading name as fire rainbows are neither fire, nor a rainbow, but are named due to their brilliant colors and flame like appearance. The best time to view a fire rainbow is when the sun is higher than 58 degrees in the sky and cirrus clouds are present with just the right amount of ice crystals.
4. Fallstreak Hole
Also known as sky punch, when people see this phenomenon they associate them with UFO’s. The holes are formed when water temperature in the clouds is below freezing but the water has not frozen yet. When the Ice crystals do form it sets off a domino effect, causing the water droplets around the crystals to sink, leaving a large circular hole in the cloud.
3. Fire Whirls
Like something out of a fantasy film, fire whirls are a highly dangerous whirling vortex made of fire. When intense heat and strong winds combine it forms a tornado like structure that sucks in burning debris and combustible gases. Varying in different size and duration's, they generally only last for a few minutes, and rarely form into an actual tornado.
2. Light Pillars
This light show is an optical phenomenon that comes together when cold weather and clouds form the perfect conditions. Light pillars occur when light reflects off flat ice crystals in the air close to the Earth’s surface. Because the ice crystals reflect the source of the light, the pillars take on the color of the light source and create a spectacular light show.
1. Super Cells
Beautiful but deadly these storms are the rarest but potentially the most violent. With a powerful, persistently rotating updraft super cells are capable of producing baseball sized hail, strong damaging winds, and even tornadoes. Referred to as miniature engines of the Earth’s atmosphere, these storms are the bounty which storm chasers most commonly hunt for.
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