Freezing fog creates rare light pillars in Wisconsin on Sunday

In summary, freezing fog is a type of fog that occurs when the temperature is below freezing and is made up of supercooled water droplets. This fog can create light pillars when light from a distant source is reflected off of suspended ice crystals. Light pillars are considered rare because the conditions for their occurrence are not often aligned. They can occur in any location, but are most commonly seen in colder climates. The duration of light pillars can vary, but they typically last for a few minutes to an hour, depending on various factors. Once the conditions change, the light pillars will disappear.
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From, https://flipboard.com/topic/crystal...consin-on-sunday/f-ca02faf45c/accuweather.com

For physics see, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/06/science/light-pillars.html

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  • #2
Very cool. Thanks for posting
 
  • #3
sweet !

I haven't seen them splaying out at the top like that before
They are usually just vertical bars of light sometimes tapered at one or both ends or not tapered at all

those ones look like a bunch of colourful fountains :smile:
 

1. What is freezing fog?

Freezing fog is a type of fog that occurs when the temperature is below freezing. It is made up of tiny water droplets that are supercooled, meaning they are still in liquid form even though the temperature is below freezing. When these droplets come into contact with a surface, they freeze and create a layer of ice.

2. How does freezing fog create light pillars?

Light pillars are created when light from a distant source, such as the sun or streetlights, is reflected off of ice crystals suspended in the air. When freezing fog occurs, the tiny ice crystals in the fog act as prisms, reflecting the light and creating the illusion of pillars of light.

3. Why are light pillars considered rare?

Light pillars are considered rare because the conditions must be just right for them to occur. The temperature must be below freezing, there must be a source of light, and there must be suspended ice crystals in the air. These conditions do not align often, making light pillars a rare occurrence.

4. Where do light pillars typically occur?

Light pillars can occur in any location where the conditions are right, but they are most commonly seen in colder climates. This is because freezing fog is more likely to occur in these areas, and the colder temperatures also make the ice crystals in the fog more stable and less likely to melt.

5. How long do light pillars typically last?

The duration of light pillars can vary, but they typically last for a few minutes to an hour. The length of time they are visible depends on factors such as the amount of fog, the intensity of the light source, and the movement of the ice crystals in the air. Once the conditions change, the light pillars will disappear.

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