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Japan: Brilliant Mpemba Effect Captured in Hokkaido Amid Massive Cold Wave

As a massive cold wave hit a wide area of Japan on Friday, January 23, social media footage from Hokkaido captured a brilliant display of the Mpemba effect. The video shows boiling water being thrown into the freezing air, where it instantly transforms into a shimmering cloud of ice crystals.

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China: Rare Sun Halo Appears Over Ningbo Amid Heatwave

On July 1, 2025, a rare sun halo appeared over Ningbo, Zhejiang, drawing the attention of passersby who stopped to watch. The phenomenon, caused by sunlight passing through ice crystals, occurred amid a heatwave with temperatures nearing 40 °C.

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China: Stunning Golden Ice Hue Created By Combination Of Boiling Water And Freezing Temperatures

On December 13, 2024, in Guangdong, located in southern China, a video captured two men demonstrating the fascinating phenomenon of water turning to ice in extreme cold. In the snowy outdoors, they boiled a kettle of water and poured it into a bowl. Then, with a dramatic gesture, they flung the hot water into the air. The near-instantaneous freezing of the water, due to the frigid temperatures, created beautiful ice crystals that scattered and sparkled under the sunlight. Positioned with the sun behind them, the ice formations glowed with a golden hue, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.

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China: Mysterious Cloud Spotted Over Sky Of Jinan, Shandong

This is the unusual moment that a perfectly rectangular "bilayer cloud" floating solo in a clear sky, resembling a "placed" object. On November 26, 2024, in Jinan, Shandong, the video clearly showed the cloud’s edges sharply defined against the backdrop of blue, sparking intrigue and speculation. Experts suggested that the shape might have been due to the contrails of a high-speed aircraft. When aviation fuel, primarily composed of hydrocarbons, burned, the hydrogen in the fuel combined with oxygen to form water vapor. This vapor rapidly condensed into ice crystals in the cold upper atmosphere, creating a streaking effect that from the ground appeared smooth and thread-like. While the exact cause was still a topic of discussion, it left a lasting impression on those who saw it.

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China: Spectacular Sight Of Six Suns Over Sky In Chengdu

A breathtaking natural phenomenon was witnessed in Chengdu, Sichuan province, southwestern China, on August 18, 2024. Amid the brilliant sunset hues, an extraordinary optical illusion appeared in the orange-red sky, a phenomenon resembling six suns rising amidst vibrant orange clouds. Scientifically known as sundogs or parhelions, the spectacle occurs when sunlight refracts through ice crystals in the atmosphere.

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China: Stunning Ice Halo Spotted In Kunming, Yunnan

A stunning ice halo was spotting in Kunming, Yunnan on May 21. According to Li Xiaopeng, an expert from the Kunming Meteorological Observatory, the formation principle of an ice halo is similar to that of a rainbow. Because high-altitude clouds are relatively thin, their interiors consist of ice crystals. When sunlight shines onto these high-altitude clouds, it undergoes refraction and reflection, resulting in the formation of this colorful circular halo.

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China: Circumhorizontal Arc Spotted Over Sky Of Xicheng District, Beijing

Residents of Beijing were treated with a stunning natural display on May 14. A circumhorizontal arc, created by ice crystals in the upper atmosphere refracting the sun's rays, appeared in the sky. The video was captured by Mr. Wang at the Xidan intersection in Xicheng District.

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A Chinese New Year tour guide for foreign tourists

STORY: A Chinese New Year tour guide for foreign tourists SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage DATELINE: Jan. 31, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:24 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of foreign tourists waiting to enter China 2. various of beautiful scenery in China 3. various of unique traditions in China 4. various of tasty food in China 5. various of ice and snow tourism spots in China STORYLINE: China's recent extension of the visa-free policy to a number of countries is expected to bring in many more foreign visitors. What are the fun things foreign visitors can do on their discovery trip to China during the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year holiday? With beautiful landscapes, unique traditions, and tasty food, China has a lot to offer. Part of Lake Manasarovar in southwest China's Xizang has frozen. Floating ice of various shapes forms a unique landscape. In Lop Nur, northwest China's Xinjiang, the clear salt lake is dotted with white salt crystals. In Deqin County, southwest China's Yunnan Pr

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Optical phenomenon of cold weather

03.01.2024, Lepna. A sun dog (or sundog) or mock sun, also called a parhelion in meteorology, is an atmospheric optical phenomenon that consists of a bright spot to one or both sides of the Sun. It is caused by the refraction of sunlight by ice crystals in the atmosphere. PHOTO: Marianne Loorents/Virumaa Teataja

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Optical phenomenon of cold weather

03.01.2024, Lepna. A sun pillar. The effect is created by the reflection of light from tiny ice crystals that are suspended in the atmosphere or that comprise high-altitude clouds PHOTO: Marianne Loorents/Virumaa Teataja

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Optical phenomenon of cold weather

03.01.2024, Lepna. A sun pillar. The effect is created by the reflection of light from tiny ice crystals that are suspended in the atmosphere or that comprise high-altitude clouds PHOTO: Marianne Loorents/Virumaa Teataja

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Optical phenomenon of cold weather

03.01.2024, Rahinge. A sun dog (or sundog) or mock sun, also called a parhelion in meteorology, is an atmospheric optical phenomenon that consists of a bright spot to one or both sides of the Sun. It is caused by the refraction of sunlight by ice crystals in the atmosphere. Photo Margus Ansu, Tartu Postimees

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Ice-snow tourism booming in China's northernmost province

STORY: Ice-snow tourism booming in China's northernmost province DATELINE: Dec. 19, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:04 LOCATION: HARBIN, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Beiji Village of Mohe City 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): QIN JING, Tourist 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): JIANG HONGFENG, Tourist 4. various of rime scenery in Xunke County 5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): WANG XIAOYU, Tourist 6. various of rime scenery in Xunke County STORYLINE: Ice and snow have become a magnet for tourists in NE China's Heilongjiang Province. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): QIN JING, Tourist "I just watched the snowmobile show, which was very fun and exciting, and I really wanted to experience it myself. There are some other activities, like turning boiling water into ice crystals and horse-drawn sleigh rides. I will have a try." SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): JIANG HONGFENG, Tourist "The extremely cold temperature reminded me of my childhood. I'm impressed by the hospitality of the local people. I really like northeast China. I love Heilong

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'Sun pillar' in Japan

OBIHIRO, Japan - A ''sun pillar,'' created by the reflection of sunlight on ice crystals in the atmosphere, appears in the mountains of Kitami in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on the morning of Jan. 28, 2011.

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Light pillars spotted in Inner Mongolia, China

STORY: Light pillars spotted in Inner Mongolia, China DATELINE: Nov. 21, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:33 LOCATION: HULUN BUIR, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the light pillars STORYLINE: Light pillars were spotted in Genhe City in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Sunday night. These vertical light beams were formed by the reflection from ice crystals in the cold air. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hulun Buir, China. (XHTV)

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Ice making system developed by Professor Uemura of Nagaoka University of Technology

Professor Yasushi Uemura of Nagaoka University of Technology has developed a practical system for artificially making ice by radiative cooling. By preventing the flow path of the refrigerant from contacting the surface of the water to be frozen, the system generates a state of radiative cooling that causes the water to freeze gradually from the top. Like natural ice, the ice crystals are directed in a single direction, and the crystals are large. In cooperation with Sakata Corporation (Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture), the company aims to release the ice for commercial use next spring. They plan to sell ice on their own in the spring of next year with the aim of promoting the water quality of Niigata Prefecture and revitalizing the region. Professor Uemura is considering launching the ice making system itself in 2020, and is also seeking partner companies. Photo taken on October 29, 2019, credit: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun / Kyodo News Images

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'Sun pillar' in Japan

OBIHIRO, Japan - A ''sun pillar,'' created by the reflection of sunlight on ice crystals in the atmosphere, appears in the mountains of Kitami in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on the morning of Jan. 28, 2011. (Kyodo)

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China Winter Weather

At minus 16 degrees Celsius, water vapor on the sea surface turns into ice crystals and gathers like fog on the sea surface in the early morning of January 7, 2021 in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China.

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China Winter Weather

At minus 16 degrees Celsius, water vapor on the sea surface turns into ice crystals and gathers like fog on the sea surface in the early morning of January 7, 2021 in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China.

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China Winter Weather

At minus 16 degrees Celsius, water vapor on the sea surface turns into ice crystals and gathers like fog on the sea surface in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China, January 7, 2021.

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China Winter Weather

At minus 16 degrees Celsius, water vapor on the sea surface turns into ice crystals and gathers like fog on the sea surface in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China, January 7, 2021.

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China Winter Weather

At minus 16 degrees Celsius, water vapor on the sea surface turns into ice crystals and gathers like fog on the sea surface in the early morning of January 7, 2021 in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China.

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China Winter Weather

At minus 16 degrees Celsius, water vapor on the sea surface turns into ice crystals and gathers like fog on the sea surface in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China, January 7, 2021.

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China Winter Weather

At minus 16 degrees Celsius, water vapor on the sea surface turns into ice crystals and gathers like fog on the sea surface in the early morning of January 7, 2021 in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China.

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China Winter Weather

At minus 16 degrees Celsius, water vapor on the sea surface turns into ice crystals and gathers like fog on the sea surface in the early morning of January 7, 2021 in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China.

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China Winter Weather

At minus 16 degrees Celsius, water vapor on the sea surface turns into ice crystals and gathers like fog on the sea surface in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China, January 7, 2021.

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China Winter Weather

At minus 16 degrees Celsius, water vapor on the sea surface turns into ice crystals and gathers like fog on the sea surface in the early morning of January 7, 2021 in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China.