Polar stratospheric cloud (white) with other clouds coloured by a sunset. This is a nacreous or mother-of-pearl type of polar stratospheric cloud (PSC). PSCs are high-altitude icy clouds that are found about 24 kilometres up in the polar stratosphere. They only form during winter when the temperature drops below around -80 degrees Celsius. PSCs play a key role in the destruction of ozone by chlorine. They convert harmless forms of chlorine into highly-reactive forms. Chlorine is carried into the stratosphere in CFCs (chloro- fluorocarbons),gases used as refrigerants and during foam plastic manufacture. Photographed over Swedish Lapland in early January | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / Hay Jones, David |
Bildgröße: | 4504 px × 3121 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: | - |