Naga fireballs

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In a phenomenon known as Naga fireballs, glowing balls rise from the water along the Mekong River on the border between Thailand and Laos during the end of Buddhist lent day in late October. The number of fireballs reported varies between tens and thousands per night. Legend states that the fireballs are produced by a large mythical snake known as a Naga; they are said to show their respect for Buddha and celebrate his ascension into Tavatimsa Heaven. Skeptics have long searched for an alternate explanation, but so far none has been found.

Blood falls

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The Blood Falls in Antarctica are a unique phenomenon. When the frozen waterfall was first discovered in 1911, scientists believed that the discolouration was due to algae. However, there was no proof of this. The Blood Falls, which are located in Antarctica’s Taylor Valley, are not only unusual because of their colour; they’re also one of the coldest glaciers on Earth and support a constantly flowing stream filled with iron. Until recently, scientists weren’t sure how the falls existed at all; it was thought that there wasn’t enough snowfall in the area to sustain such a large body of moving water.

Brinicles

Icicles are formed when water droplets freeze on a surface, and they’re commonly seen on tree branches, buildings, and other structures. They can also form at the bottom of the ocean. The process is called brine icicle formation, or brinicle formation. It results in a frozen, deadly stalactite that forms as a mass of very cold salt water comes into contact with warmer water above the seafloor where temperature decreases quickly. The Brinicle can reach temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius. As soon as it touches the bottom, ice spreads and kills all life forms instantly.

Mammatus clouds

Clouds come in all shapes and sizes, but one of the strangest is the mammatus cloud, which looks like a bunch of clustered pouches hanging on the underside of a larger cloud. Mammatus clouds can look like the udders of a cow, or like bubble wrap. The word “mammatus” is derived from Latin, meaning “breast” or “udder.” Scientists aren’t entirely sure why these clouds form, but they often appear under very turbulent weather conditions on the underside of storm clouds.

Red sprites and blue jets

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Red sprites and blue jets are types of lightning flashes that occur high above thunderstorm clouds. For over a century, these flashes were dismissed as fiction. In 1989, scientists from Minnesota actually caught these “sprites” on film; since then, many thousands more have been captured in photographs and video recordings. Scientists have been studying lightning in the atmosphere and space since then. Red sprites are caused when lightning strikes between an underlying thundercloud and the ground, while blue jets are triggered by heavy hail.

Sailing stones

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The Racetrack Playa, a dry lake bed in Death Valley National Park, is famous for its rock-moving mystery. Rocks glide across the flat surface of the playa with no apparent force behind them. The sailing stones of Death Valley are a geological mystery that has puzzled visitors and scientists for years. The rocks – which vary in size from a few ounces to hundreds of pounds – leave behind trails as long as 1,500 feet when they move. Many of the largest stones have moved from their original location over time, suggesting that they’ve travelled a long way from where they started.

Ball lightning

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For centuries, people have been intrigued by ball lightning. The phenomenon usually appears as a glowing, floating sphere during storms. It can be blue, orange or yellow in colour and disappears after a few seconds. It sometimes makes a hissing noise and gives off a foul smell. Early on, ball lightning was seen as a divine messenger. The first recorded sighting occurred in 1638 when a “ball of fire” passed through the window of an English church. Scientists now know that ball lightning can be deadly, and they agree that it’s real – even though they don’t yet fully understand what causes it.

Snow rollers

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In the winter, wind can gather snow into a cylindrical shape that rolls along the ground. These formations are called snow rollers, which are similar to tumbleweeds but smaller and less dense. Snow rollers typically range in size from a few inches to a couple feet wide. Snow rollers are triggered only in specific conditions, such as the right amount of moisture, snow and wind. They’re not often spotted in urban areas. In 2014, people reported seeing snow rollers in the Midwest; in 2018, they were spotted in Ottawa and Scotland.

Morning glory clouds

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The Morning Glory Cloud is a rare meteorological phenomenon that can be observed in the skies above Burketown in Queensland, Australia in September and October. It is believed by the Gangalidda people to have been created by Walalu, the Rainbow Serpent. The cloud bank can be up to 1,000 km long and 1-2 km wide and travels at speeds of up to 60 km/hour. Although these clouds have been seen elsewhere, Burketown is the only place where they appear regularly. It is believed to be the result of a collision between two different types of weather systems, but isn’t fully understood.

Fire whirls

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Fire whirls, also known as fire devils, are whirlwinds that form when hot air rises and mixes with windy conditions. Because they can form into vortexes that suck in debris and gases, fire whirls are often confused with tornadoes, but they are not the same thing. Unlike tornadoes, which form from a thunderstorm and extend from the surface to the cloud base, a fire whirl’s vortex extends only from the surface to approximately 10 feet into the air.