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00:00Ah, a purple sunset.
00:02You must have seen one of those at least once in your life.
00:05Normally, it's nothing ominous and has to do with the way light travels.
00:10The light that the sun produces is white.
00:12When it goes through a prism, you see light waves of different colors,
00:16from red and orange to blue, green, and indigo.
00:20Light normally travels in a straight line if there's no obstacle in its way.
00:24The shorter light waves, including blues and purples,
00:27are scattered easier when they meet with those obstacles,
00:30like molecules and aerosols in the atmosphere.
00:33Because the sun is low on the horizon at sunset and sunrise,
00:37its light has to pass through more molecules that scatter the violet and blue light.
00:42The colors that your eyes pick up, then, are yellow, orange, and red.
00:47But with the right conditions, you can see the gorgeous purple sky.
00:52Sometimes purple sky appears for much scarier reasons.
00:55It can be caused by hurricanes, wildfires, or dust storms.
00:59The concentration of vapor in the air increases, and the light scatters more than usual.
01:04Dust, a setting sun, and low cloud cover all contribute to this natural show, too.
01:10The sky turns orange and red at dusk if there's still enough light.
01:14Then it gives off pink hues, which mix up with a dark blue sky above.
01:19Now, do you remember what happens when you mix pink and blue?
01:22You get the color purple.
01:25Not every hurricane makes the sky turn purple,
01:28and trying to predict if it's going to happen is like trying to forecast a rainbow.
01:33Still, people reported several major hurricanes made the skies turn purple.
01:39Now, green skies might look just as spectacular as purple ones,
01:43but they actually also scream danger.
01:46They're usually there to tell you a thunderstorm, hailstorm, or a tornado is somewhere nearby.
01:51The unique color is a result of yellow sun rays getting mixed with the blue light coming from storm clouds.
01:59So, you're enjoying a nice day by the ocean with a fresh breeze in your hair,
02:04when suddenly you notice the water starts retreating from the beach at a huge speed.
02:09This is a sign for you to start running as fast and far away from the beach as you can.
02:15This most likely means that a tsunami is on the way.
02:18A quick reaction maximizes your chances of survival.
02:23Now, if you notice the sea level is rising, but it doesn't seem too extreme,
02:27it could be another sign of an approaching tsunami.
02:30It happens in 40% of cases, and the incoming water is the first tsunami wave.
02:37The next one, way larger and more dangerous, usually follows in about 10 minutes.
02:42Another thing about tsunamis is that they like to arrive with some loud sounds.
02:47People describe them as thunder, the sound of a locomotive, a helicopter, or just a loud boom.
02:54Do you see a channel of choppy water on the beach?
02:56It's in your best interest to stay away from the water.
03:00There might be a rip current under the surface that can be extremely dangerous.
03:04Sometimes, waves hit the shore in a weird way, which forms these rip currents.
03:09You might see a strange break in the waves,
03:12or an area with a different color than the rest of the water.
03:15Random bits of seaweed going in all directions is another rip current warning sign.
03:21If you happen to find yourself caught in a rip current,
03:24try to stay afloat, but don't try to go against the current.
03:28You'll only waste precious energy.
03:31Scream for help and try to float your way along the beach.
03:34Once you break out of the current, swim diagonally to the shore.
03:39The next time you spot conically shaped clouds in the sky,
03:42remember, it's a good time to start looking for some shelter.
03:46If it just stays like that, a severe storm is on the way.
03:49But if a cloud of that shape starts spinning around,
03:53it means it's about to transform into a tornado.
03:58If you have bees nearby, they can save you from big trouble one day.
04:02These hard-working little guys get more active than usual
04:05when they feel like a storm is on the way.
04:08They speed up to collect more nectar before it hits them.
04:11And once they're done with it,
04:12they'll always come back to the hive 10 to 15 minutes before heavy rain,
04:16even when there are no obvious signs of it coming.
04:20Their secret is super-sensitive hairs on the back
04:23that can pick up electrostatic build-ups from storm clouds.
04:27For centuries, people have noticed that animals act weirdly
04:31a couple of days before big seismic events.
04:34Dogs can't start barking, cows halt their milk,
04:37and toads, rats, and snakes leave their homes.
04:40It looks like animals can feel smaller initial shockwaves
04:44that humans don't even notice.
04:46Scientists have tried to find some legit explanation for it
04:50and run endless tests and experiments.
04:52But so far, they're still on their way to explaining this mystery.
04:57Can you smell ozone in the air?
04:59When a thunderstorm is on the way,
05:01it's the most distinct and pungent smell you can pick up.
05:04An electrical charge of lightning sets it free from higher altitudes.
05:09The other, more pleasant smell of rain is petrichor.
05:12Rainwater wakes up molecules on plants, trees, concrete, and asphalt.
05:17Their aroma spreads all over the place.
05:20You can even feel that smell in your own mouth.
05:22All those positive ions in the air that a lightning bolt sets free
05:27gets mixed with ozone and your saliva.
05:30And that's how you get that bitter metallic taste.
05:34When lightning is about to strike,
05:36you might hear bizarre crackling, buzzing, or vibrating sounds
05:40coming from metal objects nearby.
05:42Your palms may begin to sweat.
05:44And then you can feel your hair stand on end.
05:47That's a clear call for action.
05:49And that action is to run for your life.
05:52Positive charges are going through your body,
05:54trying to reach toward the negatively charged part of the storm.
05:58Trust me, you don't want these charges to meet.
06:01If you see no shelter that you can reach fast,
06:04try to make yourself smaller than the objects around you.
06:07Drop down your umbrella and stay away from wire fences,
06:11metal pipes, rails, and other metallic objects.
06:14And don't lie flat on the ground.
06:16It's likely wet, which means it's a great conductor of electricity.
06:21If you suddenly notice crevices in the asphalt next to your house,
06:25it could be a sinkhole warning sign.
06:28Inspect your house on the inside.
06:29Does that door begin to jam?
06:32Or maybe there's a gap where the walls meet the ceiling.
06:36Uneven kitchen cabinets and drawers,
06:38slanted floors,
06:39stairs that begin to slope,
06:41water leaking after every rain,
06:43and displaced moldings are all signs
06:46that a sinkhole is about to open.
06:48To find out if it's definitely a sinkhole
06:50and how dangerous it is,
06:52you gotta consult with an engineering company.
06:54If you find a sinkhole that's already there,
06:58you gotta stay away from the sinkhole area.
07:00Fence or rope it off to make it less dangerous for others.
07:03You'll need professional help to fix it.
07:07Some volcanoes scream when they're about to erupt.
07:10Small earthquakes, which often happened before,
07:13produce a hum.
07:14It's mostly non-audible to human ears,
07:17but sometimes it reaches a frequency
07:19that lets you hear it
07:20as a strange rumbling or hissing sound
07:23coming from the ground.
07:24This noise is known as a harmonic tremor.
07:27With some volcanoes,
07:29it's the sound of magma bubbles vibrating
07:32when they're going through crevices
07:33in the crust of the Earth.
07:34But it's not always like this.
07:37If scientists manage to understand
07:39what exactly causes these volcanic streams,
07:42they could create a limited early warning system
07:45for volcanic eruptions.
07:47If you're out in the wild,
07:48pay attention to the water
07:50in creeks, streams, and rivers.
07:52If its level is quickly falling,
07:54even if it's raining,
07:55this might be a sign of a nearing landslide.
07:59And if you hear a faint rumbling noise
08:01or unusual sounds,
08:03like boulders knocking together,
08:05it could mean debris is on its way to you.
08:07It's a sign to head to safety immediately,
08:10like right now.
08:14That's it for today.
08:15So hey, if you pacified your curiosity,
08:17then give the video a like
08:18and share it with your friends.
08:20Or if you want more,
08:21just click on these videos
08:22and stay on the bright side.
08:25Something interesting has recently happened
08:27in South Dakota.
08:28It was all over the internet.
08:30So perhaps you already know about it.
08:32In July of 2022,
08:34the sky in this state suddenly turned green.
08:38So what happened there?
08:40Was it caused by a human or by nature?
08:43Let's find out.
08:46Tuesday, July 5th, 2022.
08:49Shortly after a heavy storm,
08:51the sky over South Dakota in the US
08:53was still overcast.
08:55Locals finally went outside
08:57and saw that the sky had an intense dark green hue.
09:01And they'd never seen anything like that before.
09:03People said that it looked like something
09:05straight up from science fiction
09:07or even a horror movie.
09:11Unsurprisingly,
09:12South Dakotans immediately started spreading the news
09:15all over social media.
09:16People shared their beautiful,
09:18yet very eerie pictures on Twitter.
09:21They showed the sky over the city of Sioux Falls
09:24and a few other towns.
09:27Even though it may look like something supernatural,
09:29in reality,
09:30this is not a terrifying phenomenon at all.
09:33It's a simple play of the light and the atmosphere.
09:37Something like this happens quite rarely
09:39and usually means that really bad weather is approaching.
09:43And that's also true to what happened in South Dakota.
09:47Just before people started sharing photos,
09:49a thunderstorm swept through the town of Sioux Falls.
09:52This was confirmed by the U.S. Weather Service.
09:55This hurricane was terrible.
09:57The wind speed was about 100 miles per hour.
10:00According to the Buford Scale on Wind Speeds,
10:02this is the fastest and most destructive storm.
10:06There are only 12 numbers on this scale
10:08and the maximum wind strength starts at 73 miles per hour.
10:13But why isn't this all over the news then?
10:16Well, because it's kind of a usual thing for the residents.
10:22Thunderstorms occur very often in the United States,
10:25especially in the warmer months.
10:27And one out of 10 such thunderstorms
10:29can become something serious, like a tornado.
10:32This one wasn't an exception.
10:34It was the so-called Derrico Storm.
10:39Derrico is very widespread and long-lived.
10:42It's actually a combination of a fast-moving group
10:45of severe thunderstorms and downpours.
10:48People often say that a Derrico is as strong as a tornado.
10:53Still, there's a difference between them.
10:55A tornado is a vortex, a rotating column of air.
10:59It's usually about 500 feet in diameter.
11:02Although sometimes its width can reach up to 2.5 miles.
11:05I don't envy those who would stumble upon that.
11:08But the main point is that they rotate.
11:12The wind moves very fast in a circle,
11:14near some invisible center.
11:18A Derrico is a strong thunderstorm,
11:20or a system of strong thunderstorms,
11:23with straight-line winds.
11:25In other words, it doesn't spin.
11:27Instead, the Derrico chooses a point somewhere
11:30and simply runs to it,
11:33like a very motivated marathon runner.
11:37If we compare a Derrico to an ordinary tornado,
11:40the latter has six levels of strength,
11:43from 40 to 380 miles per hour.
11:45So, a Derrico is kind of like a small,
11:49average-level 1 to 2 tornado.
11:51Usually, its speed is within the range of 73 to 113 miles per hour.
11:58And, in both cases,
12:00they can be accompanied by severe thunderstorms,
12:02lightning, and rain.
12:04But still, these are different things.
12:08A storm becomes a Derrico
12:10if the damaged trail left by it exceeds 240 miles,
12:14and if the wind speed is at least 58 miles per hour.
12:19It's quite difficult to predict.
12:22It can form even on a clear day,
12:24when meteorologists don't even anticipate any storms.
12:27And then, the winds appear suddenly.
12:30It's so surprising that they may even feel explosive.
12:33But, the National Weather Service tries to warn people
12:37at least half an hour or an hour before this happens,
12:40so that residents have time to prepare and hide.
12:44It wasn't any different this time.
12:47The storm swept through almost all of South Dakota,
12:50as well as the states of Minnesota and Iowa.
12:53The consequences were quite serious.
12:56More than 30,000 people were left without electricity.
12:59Fortunately, people were fine.
13:02That's because the locals are pretty used to Deracos.
13:07However, the green sky is something different.
13:10It became a very unusual sight for the locals.
13:14Everyone was wondering why it happened.
13:16Was it a bad sign?
13:18Or a normal weather phenomenon?
13:21Well, to be honest,
13:23scientists don't have an exact explanation.
13:26But, although there are only assumptions,
13:28they sound pretty convincing.
13:32A green sky is a very rare phenomenon.
13:35Most scientists think that this happens
13:37when a powerful storm approaches the area
13:39before sunset or sunrise.
13:42Then, the sky will turn green in this area.
13:46NBC meteorologist Bill Cairns,
13:49who once faced a similar event himself,
13:51suggests that the green sky appeared
13:54because of the huge hail before the storm.
13:57First, let's talk about why the sky looks blue.
14:01Or any other shade, depending on its mood.
14:04In short, the sun simultaneously carries
14:07all the rays of the color spectrum.
14:09It may seem white to us in total,
14:11but it actually has all the colors at the same time.
14:16However, these color waves all have different lengths.
14:19For example, blue rays are shorter than the other ones.
14:24They jump away from the air molecules better than the red waves,
14:28so they reach us faster.
14:30Because of this, on a regular clear day,
14:33the sky seems blue.
14:36At the same time,
14:38red and orange color waves are very long and move slower,
14:41so they're usually left behind.
14:44But when the sun goes below the horizon,
14:47or rises,
14:48the rays' directions change,
14:50and these waves reach us better.
14:53It all means that even if the sunrises and sunsets
14:57seem red and orange to us,
14:59in fact,
15:00there are still blue and green waves among them.
15:03But they have to bounce off something to reach us faster,
15:06and become stronger than the red rays.
15:10Have you guessed what I'm getting at?
15:14This is where the water comes into play.
15:17Clouds are made up of water droplets.
15:19When they become large enough,
15:21but don't fall yet,
15:22for example,
15:23due to strong winds,
15:24they affect how the light behaves in the sky.
15:29Large, heavy storms mostly consist of water and hail.
15:33And water reflects blue and green rays best of all.
15:36That's exactly the reason why the water in rivers and lakes
15:40seems bluish-green to us.
15:42Although in reality,
15:43it's transparent.
15:45And, yeah,
15:46algae matter too.
15:49So,
15:49there are a couple of key factors
15:51why the sky may turn green.
15:54First off,
15:55the sun should be at the horizon level.
15:57Another factor is
15:58that while the storm clouds are approaching,
16:01they shouldn't cover the sky completely.
16:03There still must be a little room
16:05for the sun rays.
16:06Then,
16:07barely noticeable blue rays
16:09jump up to storm clouds.
16:11They're repelled by water droplets and hail.
16:14Mixing with the red sunset,
16:16they turn into a bright green light.
16:18And this green light
16:20is spreading all over the sky.
16:24That's why in most of these cases,
16:26when the sky turns green,
16:27people can only see it in the evenings.
16:30Yeah,
16:30it can also happen in the middle of the day.
16:32But since the conditions are already quite specific,
16:36seeing something like that during the day
16:38is even rarer.
16:41Still,
16:42if you see a green sky,
16:43you don't need to panic.
16:45It doesn't necessarily mean
16:47that a terrible storm is approaching.
16:49The chances are high, though.
16:51But still,
16:52it's not a rule.
16:53It can be just heavy rain
16:54or a heavy hail.
16:57In other words,
16:58if you see a green sky,
17:00then you'd better hide
17:01and hide your car.
17:03However,
17:04if you were lucky enough
17:05to see the stunning sky
17:07from the comfort of your own home,
17:08it's indeed very exciting.
17:10If you get a glimpse
17:11of something like that,
17:13just know that you had a chance
17:15to experience something
17:16very rare and special.
17:18Some people said
17:19it was the most incredible thing
17:20they had ever seen.
17:24That's it for today.
17:25So hey,
17:26if you pacified your curiosity,
17:28then give the video a like
17:29and share it with your friends.
17:30Or if you want more,
17:31just click on these videos
17:32and stay on the bright side.
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