A rainbow appeared in the sky above Taipei for nine hours continuously yesterday, claimed a meteorology expert.
It’s said to be the world’s longest-lasting rainbow which was visible from 7am to 4pm in the capital of Taiwan.
The expert, who is a professor of Atmospheric Science, said the previous world record was six hours and it was observed in Sheffield, United Kingdom, in 1994.
He also explained that the rainbow yesterday lasted for such a long time because monsoon was effecting northern Taiwan.
A rainbow appeared near Chinese Culture University in Taiwan for almost nine hours yesterday
The arc of the rainbow spread across the university campus from 7am to 4pm
The spectacular natural phenomenon was observed by Professor Kun-Hsuan Chou, who works at the Department of Atmospheric Science of Chinese Culture University in Taipei city.
Professor Chou told MailOnline: ‘This was a gift from the sky.
‘I was shaking when I observed a six-hour rainbow, but this was a miracle [to me], being able to capture a rainbow with such long duration.’
Professor Chou first recorded a rainbow which appeared in the sky for over six hours on November 27.
But three days later, he and a colleague recorded the record-breaking nine-hour rainbow near the university.
Pictures taken by Professor Chou shows at least two rainbows appeared above the university campus from 6:57am to 3:55pm. Both of them lasted for eights hours and 58 minutes.
Professor Chou said he observed four different rainbows during the nine-hour appearance
It is said to have broken the world record of the longest lasting rainbow. The previous record holder was a six-hour rainbow observed in Sheffield, United Kingdom, in 1994
He explained that there were actually four rainbows appearing in the sky, including a primary rainbow and a secondary rainbow where light is reflected by raindrops in the region of the sky.
‘Besides the two main rainbows that are easily observed, the other two are known as supernumerary rainbows, which are less obvious to see due to the difference in the size of rain drops,’ said professor Chou.
The appearance of the rainbows was cause by a seasonal monsoon wind which had blown from the northeast to the region.
The monsoon was said to have trapped the moisture, which condensed the rain and was later reflected under the sunlight.
Professor Chou, pictured, described the rare phenomenon discovery as a gift from the sky
He intended to record the rainbow’s descending movement initially but landed a surprise
Professor Chou also said the record was a surprise discovery for him and his colleague.
He said he was trying to prove a theory, which claims that a rainbow would descend seven degrees every 30 minutes.
Professor Chou and his team believed that the rainbow yesterday has set a new world record.
He claimed that the longest lasting rainbow known to him was from 23 years ago.
It was said to be seen over Sheffield, United Kingdom, for six hours continuously on 14th March 1994.
The appearance has been mentioned University of Sheffield as well as a local newspaper, The Star.
However, neither the Met Office or the World Meteorological Organisation has recorded it.
Professor Chou is looking to apply for the Guinness World Records under the ‘longest-lasting rainbow’ category using the video and pictorial footage.