A striking lunar sight over Bahrain yesterday afternoon caught the attention of residents as the moon appeared encircled by a glowing ring – a phenomenon that, according to an expert, may be an early sign of changing weather conditions.
The visual effect, known as a lunar corona or ‘crown’, was clearly visible as thin, high-altitude clouds drifted across the moon.
Explaining the science behind the spectacle, Arabian Gulf University applied physics Professor Waheeb Isa Al Nasser said the ring differs from the larger and more commonly known lunar halo.
“This crown-like ring is produced by the diffraction of moonlight as it passes through very thin clouds containing tiny water droplets or ice crystals, such as altocumulus or cirrocumulus clouds, which we observed over Bahrain,” he said.
Prof Al Nasser noted that he had earlier observed altocumulus cloud formations during the afternoon – an important clue to what was happening in the mid-level atmosphere, roughly two to seven kilometres above the ground.
“The presence of these clouds indicates that the atmosphere at mid-altitudes is becoming increasingly saturated with moisture,” he explained.
According to him, the sequence of seeing altocumulus clouds followed by the appearance of a lunar corona is a classic natural signal used by meteorologists to anticipate weather changes.
“The appearance of this feature usually indicates increased humidity in the higher layers of the atmosphere. This often precedes changes in weather conditions,” he said. “It typically signals that a weather front or a low-pressure system is approaching.”
Prof Al Nasser added that the phenomenon is more than a beautiful night-time spectacle, it is a visible indicator of atmospheric dynamics already in motion.
“It is often a sign that rainfall could occur within the next 12 to 24 hours,” he noted. “It also reflects active wind movement in the upper layers of the atmosphere.”
He concluded that the clear skies currently seen over Bahrain are likely to give way to cloudier and more unsettled weather very soon.
Residents who spotted the glowing ring around the moon may, in fact, have witnessed an early visual clue of a shift in Bahrain’s weather pattern in the coming hours.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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