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noctilucent
Aug. 14th, 2012 07:34 amnoctilucent (nok-tuh-LOO-suhnt) - adj., shining or glowing at night, used especially of very high altitude clouds that reflect sunlight long after sunset.
At high latitudes, where twilight is extended, noctilucent clouds can glow for a couple hours after sunset -- quite startling. Apparently they have been increasing in frequency the past few decades, which given they can be formed under certain specific conditions has led to speculation this is related to global climate change. Coined in the 1880s from Latin roots nocti-, from nox, night + -lucent, from past partciple of lūcēre, to shine.
---L.
At high latitudes, where twilight is extended, noctilucent clouds can glow for a couple hours after sunset -- quite startling. Apparently they have been increasing in frequency the past few decades, which given they can be formed under certain specific conditions has led to speculation this is related to global climate change. Coined in the 1880s from Latin roots nocti-, from nox, night + -lucent, from past partciple of lūcēre, to shine.
---L.
