What observation suggests turbulence within the high cloud layer when viewing a lunar halo?
Answer
The ring appears patchy, distorted, or flickering
The stability of the $22^ ext{o}$ halo is a direct indicator of the atmospheric stability within the cloud layer. A stable, bright ring suggests that the ice crystals are relatively uniform in their orientation, allowing the light to be refracted consistently. Conversely, if the observed ring appears distorted, patchy, or seems to flicker in brightness, it signifies significant atmospheric turbulence. This turbulence causes the microscopic ice crystals to tumble irregularly, leading to inconsistent scattering of the moonlight and thus an inconsistent, changing visual representation of the halo.
#Videos
What is a lunar halo? - YouTube
Related Questions
What optical phenomenon causes the luminous ring known as a lunar halo?What precise minimum angle reflects light refraction by common hexagonal ice crystals in a lunar halo?Which specific types of high-level clouds produce the ice crystals necessary for a lunar halo?Approximately how many times the Moon's diameter must be stacked to span the $22^ ext{o}$ circle outward to the ring?What inherent geometric property of ice dictates the $22^ ext{o}$ minimum deviation angle for the halo?In mid-latitude areas, what weather condition often follows the appearance of a high-level lunar halo?For the $22^ ext{o}$ halo to form, what specific angle must the exit face be relative to the entry face of the hexagonal ice crystal?What observation suggests turbulence within the high cloud layer when viewing a lunar halo?Besides the $22^ ext{o}$ halo, what other, larger halo is sometimes produced by moonlight interacting with ice crystals?What angular span, measured by a fully stretched hand at arm's length, can help an observer estimate the $22^ ext{o}$ halo?