Recently, social media was abuzz after tourists posted photos of strange green lights in the sky above Phanern Thung Mountain in Kaeng Krachan National Park in western Thailand. Many rushed to declare it a rare atmospheric phenomenon - the northern lights - which seemed unbelievable in tropical latitudes. Scientists have clarified the matter.
Optical phenomenon or reflection of light?
The northern lights are a natural light show that can be seen in the polar regions of the planet. It is the result of charged particles from the solar wind colliding with atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere. Prof. Jessada Denduangboriphan of Chulalongkorn University categorically stated that the northern lights cannot be observed in the tropical latitudes of Thailand because it requires special conditions that are not present here.
Then what did the astonished tourists capture on the pictures? The professor's version is rather prosaic: in his opinion, the greenish glow could be caused by the reflection of light from fishing boats in the clouds. However, the park is far from the coast and at high altitude, which puts this hypothesis in doubt.
A rare atmospheric phenomenon?
Representatives of Thailand's National Parks Department shed light on the origin of the strange lights. According to their data, such a phenomenon is observed over the mountain Phanern Thung once or twice a year. The cause is an optical illusion due to the reflection and refraction of light in the perispheric clouds.
Scientists believe that perispherical clouds are formed at high altitudes under conditions of high humidity and low temperatures. Their crystalline structure can act like a giant prism, scattering and reflecting light with unusual visual effects.
Author of the article: Ekaterina Antonova
