Almost impossible to connect rainbow with something bad. Everyone is pleased to see how it forms in the sky, especially when a full arch is observed. Psychologically, this seems to have only positive connotations. But when we talk about climate, can we say the same? That is, how can we relate this to changing of the climate?
This question was recently asked by a group of scientists from several US research centers. After all, climate change will change the behavior of precipitation as we know it, therefore, it is to be expected that there are places on the planet where more rainbows can be seen, and others where, little by little, they become rare.
To test what these places are and, above all, whether the result can be considered as positive or negative, these scientists conducted a series of experiments. photo based models. The results show that climate change may indeed influence its presence. Although it is not yet clear what connotations this may have psychological level.
How is a rainbow formed?
Rainbows form when the sun peeks out from behind clouds during or immediately after rain. In both cases, the atmosphere remains charged raindropswhich act like prisms, refracting the light of the sun’s rays falling on them.
Thus, what was originally white light disintegrates into all those colors which we see as an arc. Although in fact it is not an onion, but a circle. What happens is that the lower part is not visible due to horizon interference.
From the ground it is visible only under solar angles from 0° to 42°that occur early in the morning or late in the evening. Also, ideally, there should not be too many clouds that can block the sunlight.
And, of course, it also needs rain. It is these liquid precipitations that facilitate light refractionso it is clear that climate change must somehow play a role.
Climate change impacts according to models
For this study, published in Global environmental changeits authors have developed a database consisting of rainbow photos from all over the world and various sources. Then they trained an empirical model for the occurrence of this phenomenon and tested it. both the current climate and the three future climate scenarios.
Thus, they saw that at the present time on Earth there are, on average, 117 ± 71 days per year with the right conditions for a rainbow. However, it is likely that by 2011 this average will increase. from 4% to 4.9%. Though it wouldn’t be evenly distributed. In fact, between 21% and 34% of the land will lose rainbow days. On the other hand, 66% to 79% will experience this increase.
Hotspots where fewer rainbows will be seen include Mediterranean, most of Brazil and northeastern South America, southern Australia and parts of central and southern Africa. On the other hand, hotspots, where this phenomenon will be observed most often, will northern North America (eg Alaska) and Eurasia (eg northern Norway), the Korean Peninsula, Japan, the Tibetan Plateau and eastern Borneo.
All this may seem like good news for the latter, and the lesser evil for the former. However, the authors of the study emphasize that this is nothing more than a new consequence changing of the climate. A decrease in the rainbow means an increase in drought, and its increase may be associated with heavy rains.
It can also affect psychological
In addition to being associated with precipitation, this could have Psychological consequences. And the fact is that, according to the authors, the rainbow usually causes well-being and connection with nature. However, with these new scenarios, people’s perception of this phenomenon may change. For example, if it is associated with heavy rains and floods, this can no longer be considered as something positive. And, on the other hand, those who will see them less and less often will miss that connection with the nature of past years.
All of these are assumptions that will require psychological data analysis. However, one thing is clear: if we do not take action, everything will change in the coming years. And perhaps even something that once could only be associated with positivity and good mood will eventually become something terrifying.
Source: Hiper Textual
