Natural Phenomenon

We know that mother nature constantly surprises us everyday with its beauty work. Always it presents us with spectacular view that leaves us mesmerized and somehow makes us appreciate it a little more. Nature makes us feel calm and at peace. Now there is more than a sunset or a land of green tress or mountains to define nature. This article will show you a few mind blowing nature phenomenon that you don't get to see every day ans you wish to one day experience it yourself.

Catatumbo Lightning

Lightning never strikes the same place twice, they say. 

Well this event proves it otherwise, a spot in Venezuela in South America has attracted 1.2 million lightning bolts a year. It experience about 10 hours a night, about 260 nights a year. Venezuela’s Lake Maracaibo earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for “highest concentration of lightning” with 250 lightning flashes per square kilometre each year.

Why is this happening at this specific site?

In the 1960s, it was believed that the presence of deposited uranium that lies in the bedrock was the reason for the concentration of the eternity lightning. However, a more updated studies from scientist suggested that methane produced by the swamps and the oil deposits in the area.

Striped Icebergs

Icebergs are formed when large blocks of ice breaks off from glaciers ice shelf and is floating in open water. So you would think ice bergs are just plain whites as a result of the tiny bubbles trapped within. Well, as always nature constantly proves it wrong as now there are discovery of the colour striped icebergs.

How?

Striped icebergs in a variety of colours, including brown, black, yellow, and blue has been spotted in freezing waters around Antarctica.

Blue stripes are created when a crevice in the ice sheet fills up with meltwater and freezes so quickly that no bubbles form.

Green appears because the water that freezes is extremely rich in algae, hence the colour. Brown, yellow, and even black stripes are caused by sediments picked up along the way when the ice sheet was sliding downhill.

Frozen Bubbles

Abraham Lake in Alberta, Canada has caught many attention around the world for its famous frozen bubbles. Yes, they’re very stunning to look at, to have that Instagram photo like but as a perfectly peaceful and picturesque it may seem, something more menacing – and explosive – lurks beneath the surface. 

How come?

These frozen bubbles actually contains a harmful and flammable gas which is methane (CH4). As spring come along and the lake thaws, the bubbles will break free and rise to the top and cracks. The bubble will escape and vanish from the surface of water and it’s relatively harmless. However, if you happened to light a match, you wouldn’t want to be there.

Volcano Lightning

After 9,000 years of silence, Chile's Chaitin volcano finally showed its true power by erupting and sending a thick plume of ash and smoke more than 12 miles into the sky. The plume of ash and steam rose 10.7 to 16.8 kilometers into the atmosphere blanketing Chile forcing the town’s 4,000 people to evacuate by boat.

How does this happen?

The following facts were taken from https://www.engadget.com/2017/11/27/volcano-lightning-dirty-storm-francisco-negroni/ : “In a regular thunderstorm cloud, lightning is created when rising air makes ice crystals and water droplets bump together, forming static electricity. Once the charges build up enough to surpass the atmosphere's natural insulating tendency, lightning discharges either from one cloud to another or to the ground.”

Glowing Shore

Vaadhoo Island, Maldives is knows to be a well-known island for its beauty by the shore. Have you ever seen such glowing beauty by the shore? One that catches your attention and makes you wonder. The mesmerizing shining water looks like a mirror, that reflects the sparkling stars above. These tiny animals can also be found in The Blue Grotto, Malta. Bioluminescent Bay, Puerto Rico, San Diego, California, Navarre Beach, Florida, Toyama Bay, Japan.

Matsu Islands, Taiwan.

What is it?

Scientist has found a new organisms called bioluminescent phytoplankton also known as ‘sea sparkle’. Bioluminescence is the ability of an organism to create light. where currents bring the colder, nutrient-rich waters up from the depths, the surface waters will be enriched with added nutrients which may stimulate phytoplankton growth. These tiny little animals do so much more than just glow ever so magnificently in the sea. More information can be found in this website: http://thesciencebeat.pbworks.com/w/page/32949288/Plankton%20vs%2C%20Phytoplankton