Pronunciation: [lˈə͡ʊvɪts] (IPA) 
The word "Lowitz" is a German surname that has been transliterated into English. Its phonetic transcription in IPA is /loʊwɪts/. The "l" sound is followed by the "ow" sound which is similar to the "o" in "low" and "no". The "w" is pronounced as the English "v". The "i" is pronounced as the "ee" in "bee" and the "ts" sounds like the "ts" in "cats". It is important to note that the "L" is capitalized in the surname as it is a proper noun.
Lowitz is a term primarily associated with meteorology and atmospheric sciences. It refers to a specific type of cloud formation known as "lowitz arcs" or "Lowitz's arcs." These arcs are optical phenomena that occur due to the interplay of sunlight, ice crystals, and atmospheric conditions.
Lowitz arcs are observed as bright arcs or halos of light that appear in the sky, often in polar regions. The arcs are typically white or colorless but may exhibit a faint reddish or bluish tinge at times. They form as sunlight interacts with hexagonal ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere, which can refract or bend the sunlight. This bending generates a circular arc of light or a partial arc, depending on the position and orientation of the crystals.
The name "Lowitz" is derived from Johann Tobias Lowitz, an 18th-century German scientist who extensively studied atmospheric optics and phenomena related to ice crystals. He provided significant contributions to the understanding of these optical phenomena, including the discovery and explanation of meridional arcs and Lowitz arcs. His research paved the way for further investigations into atmospheric optics and influenced the development of meteorology as a science.
In summary, Lowitz refers to a specific type of bright arc or halo of light that forms in the sky due to the interaction between sunlight and ice crystals. The term is named after the German scientist Johann Tobias Lowitz, who played a crucial role in studying and explaining these atmospheric optical phenomena.
