Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — Finding something beautiful in the bosom of nature is a “gift” that must always be prepared for, said the 60-year-old Icelandic nurse, Yunina Goran Askarsdottir.
At the end of January this year, photography enthusiast Askarsdottir documented a mesmerizing spectacle of icy polar stratospheric clouds, or ‘pearl clouds’, in Iceland.
Luscious phenomenon
Photographer and nurse Ionina Göran Askarsdottir documented the “pearl clouds” phenomenon in Iceland earlier this year.
filming: Jónína Guðrún Óskarsdottir
From late December to early February annually, people have the chance to see stratospheric clouds in Iceland, which is nicknamed the “Land of Fire and Ice”.
From late December to the beginning of February every year, people have the chance to see the stratospheric clouds in Iceland.filming: Jónína Guðrún Óskarsdottir
“But the right conditions have to be in the stratosphere for those clouds to form,” the photographer said in an interview with CNN in Arabic. “I always get excited at that time of year to see if this is a good year to see those clouds.”
The photographer is amazed at the colors that form on the horizon as a result of this phenomenon.
filming: Jónína Guðrún Óskarsdottir
Although she has seen this type of cloud over and over again over the years, with her observation of it for the first time this year on January 22, and the last time on January 27 of the same month, she is still amazed at the colors that form on the horizon as a result.
When this phenomenon occurs, the sky appears as if an artist smeared the horizon with a paintbrush that carried a mixture of orange, blue, and violet colors.
The photographer is interested in documenting nature and weather conditions.
filming: Jónína Guðrún Óskarsdottir
These clouds are also known as “mother of pearl clouds,” according to the official website of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) of the United Nations.
And the photographer confirmed: “I always love seeing pearly clouds … and I think that all people love them because they are very colorful and eye-catching.”
The photographer is particularly interested in documenting the phenomenon of the aurora borealis, or the northern lights.
filming: Jónína Guðrún Óskarsdottir
Polar stratospheric clouds mainly form at high altitudes during winter, when stratospheric temperatures drop below the freezing point, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
It is most common in the Antarctic region, but it has also been observed in other regions including Antarctica, Scotland, Scandinavia, and Alaska.
The photographer also documents animals.
filming: Jónína Guðrún Óskarsdottir
Pearl clouds are often lenticular wave clouds, and thus are found downwind of mountain ranges that cause gravitational waves in the stratosphere.
Jökultindur Mountain can be seen in the photo documented by the photographer.
Despite working full time on the east coast of Iceland, the photographer is keen to look at nature and document its beauty during her spare time.
The photographer loves documenting landscapes, animals, and various weather phenomena.
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