Pilot's Glory - Antarctica

Last updated on September 16, 2023

Pilot's Glory - A Spectacular Atmospheric Phenomenon in Antarctica

The Antarctic region is known for its breathtaking landscapes and unique atmospheric phenomena. One such phenomenon is the Pilot's Glory, a captivating optical display that occurs under specific atmospheric conditions. This article delves into the mesmerizing experience of witnessing the Pilot's Glory in Antarctica and the science behind this awe-inspiring spectacle.

A Memorable Flight Experience

The photograph capturing the Pilot's Glory was taken during a return flight from Halley V, a British Antarctic Survey base located at Lat 75°S, Long 26°W. The flight was conducted in the early hours of the morning, around 1 am, when the sun was positioned behind the aircraft. As a result, a striking head-on shadow can be seen within the glory.

The pilot vividly recalls the journey, particularly the challenges encountered while flying through lower cloud layers. The cloud base gradually rose to meet the aircraft's altitude of 12,000 feet, creating an exhilarating experience as they maneuvered through gaps between peaks and attempted to climb over ridges. Eventually, at around 15,000 feet, they had to enter the cloud as their unpressurized aircraft reached its maximum acceptable cruising height.

Understanding the Pilot's Glory

The Pilot's Glory is a captivating optical phenomenon that occurs when sunlight interacts with water droplets or ice crystals in the atmosphere. It is a type of glory, which is characterized by concentric rings of colored light surrounding the observer's shadow when it falls on a cloud or fog bank.

Here are some key aspects of the Pilot's Glory:

1. Shadow and Rings: The primary feature of the Pilot's Glory is the observer's shadow cast onto clouds or fog. Surrounding this shadow are several concentric rings of colored light, with red on the outer edge and blue on the inner edge.

2. Tiny Water Droplets: The glory forms when sunlight interacts with small water droplets or tiny ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere. These droplets or crystals act as microscopic lenses that refract and scatter light, creating the colorful rings.

3. Diffraction and Interference: The rings of the Pilot's Glory are a result of diffraction and interference. As light passes through the droplets or crystals, it diffracts, bending around them and interfering constructively or destructively, leading to the formation of the distinct rings.

4. Size and Visibility: The size of the glory depends on the size of the droplets or crystals involved. Larger droplets tend to produce larger glories, while smaller droplets result in smaller, more vibrant glories. The visibility of the Pilot's Glory is also influenced by the observer's position and the angle of sunlight.

Atmospheric Conditions for the Pilot's Glory

To witness the Pilot's Glory, specific atmospheric conditions need to align perfectly. These conditions include:

1. Cloud or Fog Layer: The presence of a cloud or fog layer is crucial for the formation of the Pilot's Glory. The water droplets or ice crystals within the cloud act as the necessary medium for light interaction.

2. Uniform Droplet Size: The droplets or crystals within the cloud must be relatively uniform in size to create well-defined rings in the glory. This uniformity allows for consistent diffraction and interference patterns.

3. Precise Observer Position: The observer must be positioned in such a way that their shadow falls on the cloud or fog layer. This positioning allows for the rings of the glory to form concentrically around the shadow.

Other Atmospheric Optics in Antarctica

Antarctica is a region known for its spectacular atmospheric optics, offering a multitude of captivating displays. In addition to the Pilot's Glory, visitors to Antarctica may also have the opportunity to witness:

1. Halos: These are luminous rings or arcs that encircle the sun or moon. They are caused by the refraction and reflection of light by ice crystals in the atmosphere.

2. Sun Dogs: Also known as parhelia, sun dogs are bright spots that appear on either side of the sun. They are caused by the refraction of sunlight through ice crystals, creating a colorful display.

3. Diamond Dust: Diamond dust refers to tiny ice crystals suspended in the air, creating a sparkling effect resembling diamonds. This phenomenon often occurs in cold polar regions like Antarctica.

Capturing the Beauty

Photographers and enthusiasts visiting Antarctica are fortunate to have the opportunity to capture these mesmerizing atmospheric phenomena. The ethereal nature of the Pilot's Glory, along with other optical displays, provides a wealth of photographic possibilities.

To capture the beauty of the Pilot's Glory and other atmospheric optics in Antarctica, photographers should consider the following tips:

• Timing: Plan your photography session during the early morning or late afternoon when the sunlight is at a lower angle. This angle enhances the visibility and intensity of the optical displays.

• Composition: Frame your shot to include interesting foreground elements, such as ice formations or rugged landscapes, to add depth and context to your photographs.

• Exposure: Experiment with exposure settings to capture the vibrant colors and delicate details of the glory. Bracketing exposures can help ensure optimal results.

• Post-processing: Fine-tune your photographs during post-processing to enhance colors, contrast, and sharpness while maintaining a natural look.

Awe-Inspiring Wonders of Antarctica

The Pilot's Glory is just one of the many awe-inspiring wonders that await those fortunate enough to visit Antarctica. The unique combination of atmospheric conditions and breathtaking landscapes creates a truly magical experience for observers and photographers alike.

As you explore this extraordinary continent, keep an eye out for the Pilot's Glory and other atmospheric optics, allowing yourself to be captivated by the beauty and wonder of these natural phenomena. Whether you witness them firsthand or through the lens of a camera, these moments are sure to leave an indelible impression of the majesty of Antarctica.

Glory over Antarctica by Jon Oldroyd (site).

�Jon Oldroyd, shown with permission.

"The photo was taken on the return trip to Halley from A84. Halley being Halley V at Lat 75°S, Long 26°W, our base. A84 was an AGO, an Automated Geophysical Observatory, that the British Antarctic Survey was deploying in the southern 84th latitude. Quite far south from memory!

We were flying back, the lower cloud layer was getting closer and closer. I was in the co-pilot seat of one of the BAS DeHavilland Twin Otters. As the flight was a �night� flight, about 1am, and it being sometime just after the summer solstice the sun was behind us, hence the head-on shadow in the glory.

I remember the flight quite well; As I had the controls on the return leg, we picked up a low lying cloud base beneath us. This layer eventually came up to our height of 12,000ft. I remember flying through the valleys gaps between the peaks in the clouds, and trying to get the plane to climb over the ridges. Thankfully they were just clouds. At around 15,000ft we had to leave the game and enter cloud, as we were unpressurised and we were already above our acceptable cruise height."

Halo display at Halley V

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Reference Atmospheric Optics

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