This audiovisual presentation highlights some of the most spectacular natural optical effects seen in the Earth’s atmosphere, including rainbows, glories, halos, mirages, auroras and lightning. Basic physical explanations of these phenomena will be provided.

Prof Hartmut Winkler is a member of the Department of Physics and specializes in astrophysics, atmospheric physics and solar radiation. He has published papers on active galactic nuclei, the structure of the universe, interstellar dust, novae & stars with shells and aerosola and their impact on solar irradiation.