How Do You Spell PARHELIC CIRCLE?

Pronunciation: [pɑːhˈɛlɪk sˈɜːkə͡l] (IPA)

The parhelic circle, sometimes called the circumzenithal arc, is a rare optical phenomenon that appears as a circular band of light in the sky. The word "parhelic" comes from the Greek words "para" meaning "beside" and "helios" meaning "sun". The IPA phonetic transcription for the word is pɑrˈhɛlɪk ˈsɜrkəl. The stress is placed on the first syllable of each word, and the "h" is pronounced, unlike in some other words with "h" in the middle, such as "vehicle."

PARHELIC CIRCLE Meaning and Definition

1. The parhelic circle is an optical phenomenon observed in the atmosphere that forms a complete circular arc around the Sun, usually at the same altitude as the Sun. It is also known as the halo or circumzenithal arc.

   This atmospheric phenomenon occurs due to the refraction and reflection of sunlight by ice crystals in high-altitude cirrus clouds. The parhelic circle consists of a series of bright spots or patches of light that form a circle around the Sun. These spots are located at the same angle above the horizon as the Sun, thus creating a complete circle.

   The parhelic circle is usually observed when the Sun is relatively low in the sky, such as during sunrise or sunset. It is often accompanied by other related optical phenomena, including the parhelion or sundogs, as well as the 22° halo. These additional features are caused by the same ice crystals in the atmosphere.

   The formation of the parhelic circle is a result of the complex interaction between light, the atmosphere, and ice crystals. Due to the unique geometry involved, the parhelic circle can only be observed from specific locations on Earth at specific times.

   Overall, the parhelic circle is a breathtaking spectacle of nature, showcasing the beautiful interplay between light and ice crystals in the atmosphere.

Common Misspellings for PARHELIC CIRCLE

• oarhelic circle
• larhelic circle
• -arhelic circle
• 0arhelic circle
• pzrhelic circle
• psrhelic circle
• pwrhelic circle
• pqrhelic circle
• paehelic circle
• padhelic circle
• pafhelic circle
• pathelic circle
• pa5helic circle
• pa4helic circle
• pargelic circle
• parbelic circle
• parnelic circle
• parjelic circle
• paruelic circle

Etymology of PARHELIC CIRCLE

The word "Parhelic Circle" is composed of two parts: "parhelion" and "circle".

- The term "parhelion" is derived from the Greek words "para" meaning "beside" or "beyond", and "helios" meaning "sun". Therefore, "parhelion" literally translates to "beside the sun". It refers to an atmospheric optical phenomenon where bright spots appear beside the sun, typically caused by the refraction and reflection of sunlight on ice crystals in the atmosphere.

- The word "circle" originates from the Latin word "circulus", meaning "a round, circular shape". In this context, it refers to a circular formation or path.

Combining these two parts gives us the term "Parhelic Circle", which is a circular band of light formed by the parhelia (parhelic arcs) caused by the refraction and reflection of sunlight in the atmosphere.