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NASA Snaps Mysterious "Night-Shining" Clouds
coondoggie writes to tell us that NASA has captured some pretty impressive images of the Alluring noctilucent (or "night-shining") clouds. These clouds are made up of ice crystals and dust and are formed at high altitudes near the poles. "Very little is known about how these clouds form over the poles, why they are being seen more frequently and at lower latitudes than ever before, or why they have been growing brighter. AIM will observe two complete cloud seasons over both poles, documenting an entire life cycle of the shiny clouds for the first time. 'It is clear that these clouds are changing, a sign that a part of our atmosphere is changing and we do not understand how, why or what it means,' stated AIM principal investigator James Russell III of Hampton University, Hampton, Va. 'These observations suggest a connection with global change in the lower atmosphere and could represent an early warning that our Earth environment is being changed.'"
writes to tell us that NASA has captured some pretty impressive images of the Alluring noctilucent (or "night-shining") clouds.
At this time of day? localized entirely in your kitchen?
The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
Even more worryingly, early reports suggest they may contain Dihydrogen Monoxide.
If you haven't made a developer cry, you've wasted a day.
"All right, Beatrice, there was no alien. The flash of light you saw in the sky was not a UFO. Swamp gas from a weather balloon was trapped in a thermal pocket and reflected the light from Venus."
I'm waiting for a "-1 somepeoplejustshouldn'tgetmodprivileges" meta-moderation.
George Bush doesn't care about black clouds.
If you haven't made a developer cry, you've wasted a day.
"...Or it could be just the opposite!"
Maybe the cloud is part of a positive feedback cycle that keeps the Earth's climate in acceptable ranges. Probably not, but since we're all jumping to conclusions here...
It's true. Didn't anyone watch the documentary The Day After Tomorrow? Dennis Quaid or Jake Gyllenhaal should have won instead of Al.
Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine.
The White House is already taking steps to make sure that these "scientists" at NASA don't say anything that might upset you:
Climate Science Manipulation Alleged
Obviously, this report didn't get properly vetted. By the end of the day it should be titled "Unday Clouds Shine Pretty! Doubleplus Good!"
when the clouds are positioned for coverage around the globe . . .
checkmate
I knew a hippie chick named Alluring Noctilucent Cloud once. She could light up a room with her smile, but only at night.
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
Scientists have studied the phenomenon from the ground and from the perspective of the satellite imagery. They have found that the impressive appearance of illumination, is actually reflective. They have been unable to conclude what is the cause of the increase in the frequency of the phenomena.
A leading researcher commented as follows:
I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all
"A great democracy must be progressive or it will soon cease to be a great democracy." --Theodore Roosevelt
Brawndo's got electrolytes!