The formation of the fire rainbow entails the rays of sunlight passing through the ice crystals in the clouds in a vertical manner. The ice crystals are in a horizontal orientation, with the hexagonal flat face; the thickness of the ice does not influence its formation. In some instances, ice crystals formed in a parry orientation manner may lead to the formation of the fire rainbow, though this is a rare phenomenon. An ideal organization of the ice crystals which lead to separation of the spectral colors is the exit faces and ray entrance being inclined at an angle of 90 degrees to each other. In most cases, rays from the sun pass through the ice crystals in an angular inclination; hence there is no complete separation of the spectral colors in most cases. [www.worldatlas.com]

Image of 'Fire Rainbow in the Clouds' from Google images

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