Nacresous Clouds in Antarctica

Photograph by Renae Baker

These so-called nacreous clouds were situated high in the stratosphere, some 20km above the ground, and reveal very cold temperatures in the rarefied atmosphere.

Atmospheric layers in the Antarctic winter. Dr. Andrew Klekociuk, Australian Antarctic Division Nacreous clouds show colours similar to those on the inside of a Mother-of-Pearl shell. The clouds only occur at high polar latitudes in winter, requiring temperatures less than approximately -80ºC to form.

The stratosphere is the atmospheric layer situated above the Earth's 'weather layer' or troposphere. In Antarctica, the troposphere extends from the surface to a height of about 8-10km. The stratosphere extends from the top of the troposphere to a height of about 50km.

The Nacreous Clouds seen at Mawson were more than twice the height of clouds normally seen in the polar regions.

Source: Australian Antarctic Division

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