A White Rainbow

Abstract

THE white rainbow is so rare as to deserve noting. One was visible at Westnewton, Aspatria, for more than half an hour on Saturday, January 5. The band was much broader than in the ordinary bow, and the arc was formed in the upper intermediate cloud drift. This drift consisted of a light pallium of irregular cirro cumulus. It is important to observe that cumulus was forming, from above, at the time; i.e. the cirro cumulus was melting and descending into ordinary cumulus. A patch of this cumulus formed (under observation) and crossed beneath the bow. It then became coterminous with the western section of the arc, which blended with the cloud, and was of similar tint. Hard, dry frost continued and lasted till January 13. Barometer steady at time.