The Cloud With a Dangerous Secret

Atmospheric beauty is becoming more common - and that is bad news for the environment

Gavin Pretor-Pinney
Thursday August 3, 2006
The Guardian


This rare "nacreous" cloud formation, appearing 12 miles above in the stratosphere, was recently photographed by a scientist at Australia's Mawson station in Antarctica. Nacreous are one of the most beautiful of all cloud formations, but they are also the most destructive to our atmosphere. Their presence encourages the chemical reactions that break down the ozone layer, which acts as an essential shield protecting us from the most harmful of the sun's rays.