© Frank Le Blancq

Jersey Airport, Jersey

Latitude: 49° 12' 23'' N

Longitude: 2° 11' 44'' W

27 April 2010 0558 (Local Time)
Camera direction: towards NE

Image P/S code: P.13.1.3.1

Image I.D.: 4701

• Images & related info Other Images Images of 1987 edition
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  Sun pillar

  This photograph, taken at Jersey Airport, Jersey, shows a sun pillar on the point of sunrise. The sun pillar indicates the presence of Cirrostratus and is formed by the reflection of sunlight from plate-like ice crystals. The Cirrostratus is very thin and featureless with no distinct detail, and thus is the species nebulosus. A few small patches of Cirrus are also in the sky. Reports indicate that sun pillars were visible over southern England, UK and northern France. A small patch of shallow fog is visible on the runway.

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  © Frank Le Blancq
  Jersey Airport, Jersey
  Latitude: 49° 12' 23'' N
  Longitude: 2° 11' 44'' W
  27 April 2010 0558 (Local Time)
  
  
  Camera direction: towards NE
  Image P/S code: P.13.1.3.1
  Image I.D.: 4701
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  High pressure of 1 030 hPa was centred over north-east France, with weak fronts over the eastern Atlantic. 

  © Deutscher Wetterdienst
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  The ascent from the nearest upwind station at Camborne, England, UK (WMO 03808) shows a shallow moist layer at around 10 800 m, the likely height of the thin Cirrostratus cloud.

  © University of Wyoming
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  Sun pillar

  A Sun pillar is a luminous pillar of light that extends vertically above the Sun. It forms as a result of the reflection of light off plate-type ice crystals. This example shows a Sun pillar shortly after sunset.  

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  © Rocky Togni
  Heber Springs, Arkansas, United States of America
  Latitude: 35° 26' 49'' N
  Longitude: 92° 3' 58'' W
  07 January 2009 1722 (Local Time)
  
  
  Image P/S code: S.13.1.3.1
  Image I.D.: 5460
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  Terrestrial light pillars

  Columns of light extending upwards from terrestrial light sources may sometimes be seen at night during very cold weather. In this case, the air temperature was –28 °C and the light pillars were formed by the reflection of light from ice crystals in the air. The view here is facing towards Cambridge Bay Airport (CYCB), Nunavut, Canada. 

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  © Eric Van Lochem
  Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada
  Latitude: 69° 7' 1'' N
  Longitude: 105° 3' 35'' W
  09 April 2015 2130 (Local Time)
  
  
  Camera direction: towards SW
  Image P/S code: S.13.1.3.3
  Image I.D.: 5534