How Do You Spell PARHELIC?

Pronunciation: [pɑːhˈɛlɪk] (IPA)

Parhelic is a word used in meteorology to describe the atmospheric phenomenon where a bright spot appears on the parhelic circle. The word is pronounced as /pɑːˈhɛlɪk/ with the first syllable being pronounced as "pah" with the "a" as in "car," and the second syllable being pronounced as "hel-ik" with the "e" as in "egg." The spelling of the word comes from the Greek roots "para" meaning "beside" and "helios" meaning "sun." Together, they describe the bright spot appearing beside the sun.

PARHELIC Meaning and Definition

1. Parhelic is an adjective that refers to an optical phenomenon observed in the atmosphere, specifically in high latitudes or very cold regions. It is characterized by the appearance of bright, colorful light patches or arcs that originate from light passing through ice crystals in the atmosphere.

   When sunlight enters these ice crystals, it undergoes both refraction and reflection processes. The light is refracted as it enters the crystal, bending and separating into a spectrum of colors due to the different wavelengths of light. As the light exits the crystal, it is reflected off the internal surfaces, creating a range of bright spots or arcs.

   Parhelic phenomena can take different forms, including parhelia (also known as sundogs), which appear as bright spots on either side of the sun, along with a line connecting them. Another common parhelic phenomenon is the parhelic circle, which appears as a continuous band of light encircling the sun at the same altitude.

   These phenomena are often mistaken for rainbows, as they can display vibrant colors such as reds, oranges, and blues. However, they are distinct from rainbows, which are caused by different atmospheric conditions.

   The term "parhelic" is derived from the Greek words "para" meaning beside or alongside, and "helios" referring to the sun. It emphasizes the relationship between the sun and the appearance of these optical effects.

Common Misspellings for PARHELIC

• paehelic
• pafhelic
• pa5helic
• pa4helic
• Pa2helic
• Pavhelic
• Paphelic

Etymology of PARHELIC

The word "parhelic" is derived from two Greek roots: the prefix "para-" which means "beside" or "alongside", and the root "helios" which means "sun". The combining of these roots gives the word its meaning, which is "beside the sun". It is used to describe optical phenomena or atmospheric optical illusions that occur adjacent to the sun, particularly parhelia (also known as sun dogs) which are bright spots that appear on either side of the sun due to the refraction of sunlight by ice crystals in the atmosphere.

Similar spelling word for PARHELIC

• parheliacal.