PARHELIUM Meaning and
Definition
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Parhelium is a term derived from the combination of Greek words "para," meaning beside or alongside, and "helios," meaning the sun. It refers to a celestial optical phenomenon which occurs when one or more bright spots or patches appear alongside the sun, at the same horizontal level. This atmospheric phenomenon is also commonly referred to as a "sundog" or a "mock sun."
Parhelium is caused by the refraction, dispersion, and reflection of sunlight by ice crystals present in the Earth's atmosphere, typically in cirrus clouds. The ice crystals act as tiny prisms, bending and separating sunlight into its constituent colors and creating the illusion of additional suns on either side of the real sun. These mock suns are usually located at an angle of 22 degrees away from the real sun, forming a halo-like effect.
The appearance of parhelium is more likely to occur in colder regions, where the concentration of ice crystals in the upper atmosphere is higher. The brightness and coloration of the parhelium can vary depending on atmospheric conditions and the orientation of the ice crystals. Often, they exhibit a white or pale yellow hue, but they can also display shades of red, orange, or purple.
Parhelium has been observed and documented throughout history, and it continues to captivate viewers with its stunning beauty and atmospheric intrigue. Its appearance has been associated with various cultural and historical beliefs, and it serves as a reminder of the intricate interplay between light, ice, and the Earth's atmosphere.
Common Misspellings for PARHELIUM
- oarhelium
- larhelium
- -arhelium
- 0arhelium
- pzrhelium
- psrhelium
- pwrhelium
- pqrhelium
- paehelium
- padhelium
- pafhelium
- pathelium
- pa5helium
- pa4helium
- pargelium
- parbelium
- parnelium
- parjelium
- paruelium
- paryelium
Etymology of PARHELIUM
The word "parhelium" is derived from the combination of two Greek words: "para" meaning "beside", and "helios" meaning "sun". In Greek, "helium" is a noun form of "helios", which refers to the sun. When "para" is added as a prefix, it denotes the idea of something appearing beside or alongside another object. Therefore, "parhelium" represents a phenomenon where a bright spot or a mock sun forms near the sun.
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