BIOLOGY ESSAY I

FATIMA RODRIGUEZ

INSTITUTO INTERNACIONAL

HALO AN ATMOSPHERIC OPTICAL PHENOMENON

 When you are outside haven't you noticed a weird ring that looks like light or mist around

the sun and/or moon. This phenomenon is well known as being a sign that warns you about a

storm. In reality, the halo is only one of a number of optical effects that are caused by the

reflection and refraction of light by crystals of ice in the air. The effects of the halo can be easier

to see when there are thick clouds but thin enough to let the sun pass through, this makes the air

between and in the clouds saturated with ice crystals.

One of the most common of this phenomenon is the 22° degree Halo its name given from

the point of view of the eyes of the observer. The halo appears to be a ring that is to the sun,

usually, the ring is made up of pale white light but in some cases, it can be brightly colored. The

colors are clearest when the clouds are uniform. If the clouds were to be patchy the halo may be

in-complete.

HOW IS A 22° DEGREE HALO FORMED?

The halo is formed by the refraction of sunlight passing through the 60-degree

faces of ice crystals. The effect is shown here for a single crystal. The average deviation

(the angle between the incident ray and the emergent ray) is 22 degrees, which is the

mean radius of the halo. The halo is circular because the light is passing through billions

of randomly oriented crystals. Because of dispersion, the 22-degree halo is actually a

continuum of overlapping halos, the smallest one red and the largest violet. The inner

edge is reddish and sharply defined; the outer edge is bluish-violet and much fuzzier.
 Once in awhile Rare. one-of-a-kind observations are published, and quantitative

measurements are almost unknown. But this leads us to ask ourselves:

● Was the halo real?

● Could it have been a known halo mistaken for a new one?

● Was it described accurately?

● Have the Theoretical work of Robert G. Greenler been overlooked or is the

theory incomplete?

Mainly the ice in the clouds is the source of the optical effects the ice in the clouds is the

source of the optical effects. But we now know snowflakes of winter show that ice is a

hexagonal crystal. Such a crystal has four axes of symmetry: three axes. which are of equal

length and intersect at an angle of 120 degrees, this can be similar to the rotation of valence

electrons. And although many forms of ice can occur. only about four are important in

meteorological optics. The others are either too rare or do not have smooth. regular optical faces.

But we know that the important forms are the plate which resembles a hexagonal

bathroom tile. the column. the capped column and the bullet. (we won't get too into this).

I've been talking about ice crystals, but what exactly is an ice crystal? An atmospheric ice crystal

is formed by direct ​sublimation from the air that is supersaturated with water. Yet the type of

crystal is heavily dependent on the air temperature. ​the conditions of temperature and humidity

in which the crystals are formed. And the subtle optics that are producing the halo. If several arcs
are observed, even more, is known. Halos stir one's mind and soul since they probe both the

physical environment of the cloud and one's awareness and appreciation of the natural world.

Lately, research on halos is inching its way into the 20th century. So far, however. no

work has been done beyond classical optics. and little progress has been made in the areas of

polarization and diffraction. What is needed is a large number of observations. on which new

theoretical work can be based.

This situation offers an opportunity for an interesting skywatcher. who can do valuable research

with modest equipment: a camera, a notebook, and a sharp eye. Calibrated photographic

observations are badly needed. The observer should record carefully the radius of any halo. the

angular shapes and extensions of the arcs. Some of the many discoveries to come.

Science may have a long way to go, frankly, I am excited to know where it will take me, I

do know however that some aspects of science are and will continue to be a mystery that will

stop being a mystery when someone investigates it.

VOCABULARY
1
SYSTEMATIC

Scientific research requires a structured procedure, an organized plan to be able to recollect and

analysis of facts about what we want to research. This plan includes scientific steps:

1) Hypothesis

2) Collection of facts

3) Analysis of facts

4) Scientific ​generalization

5) Prediction

2
METHODOLOGIC

This term includes protocols and techniques for acquiring and analyzing research data.

3
OBJECTIVE

Scientific knowledge always needs to be objective, this means to be able to see and accept facts

as they are and not as one might wish them to be. Objectivity requires you to let al considerations

and prejudices aside to see the real facts.

4
VERIFIABLE

Data is gathered through our senses

 I. Smell

II. Touch

III. Sight

IV. Taste

V. Hearing

One of the bases of scientific knowledge is being able to verify evidence that observation can be

accurate.

5
MODIFICABLE

Is the ability to be open to change and to be able to accept that change

“A ​generalization is the formulation of general concepts from specific instances by abstracting

common properties. Generalization is an essential component of the wider scientific process. In

an ideal world, to test a hypothesis, you would sample an entire population. It is what allows

researchers to take what they have learned on a small scale and relate it more broadly to the

bigger picture.”

“When anything solid turns into a gas without first becoming liquid, that's ​sublimation”

APA

What is Generalization?.​ (2019). ​Explorable.com.​ Retrieved 4 September 2019, from

https://explorable.com/what-is-generalization
Top 9 Main Characteristics of Science – Explained!​. (2014). ​Your Article Library.​ Retrieved 4

September 2019, from

http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/science/top-9-main-characteristics-of-science-explained/3506

(2019).​The Aristotelian Explanation of the Halo

Retrieved 5 September 2019, from ​https://philpapers.org/archive/JOHTAE-3.pdf

(2019). ​Thulescientific.com​. Atmospheric Halos by David K. Lynch Retrieved 5 September

2019, from ​https://www.thulescientific.com/AtmosphricPhenomena.pdf

sublimation - Dictionary Definition.​ (2019). ​Vocabulary.com.​ Retrieved 5 September 2019, from

https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/sublimation