10 mins before the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China

Bizarre glowing cloud phenomenon in the sky was observed about 10 mins before the May 12, 2008 Sichuan earthquake took place. This was recorded in Meixian, Shaanxi province ~550km northeast of epicenter. The phenomenon was said to last for about 1 min.
source: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_cb00XMjc...

A map showing two locations where such clouds were sighted relative to Sichuan earthquake epicenters: http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/24...

See similar clouds appeared ~200km west of this location:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKMTSD...

More photos (reported taken 1 hr before the quake):
http://shenyun.epochtimes.com/b5/8/5/...

These clouds seemed to be glowing or somewhat luminous and seemed to resemble some characteristics of the Auroras. I am not sure exactly what they were or whether they indeed had anything to do with the quake. I am no expert anyways. See if any scientists are willing to give a full explanation.

If such phenomenon can be proved for its connection with earthquake occurrences, maybe they could be used as warning signs and would be life saving. If not, just learn these clouds as yet another rare atmospheric phenomenon and no need to panic when seeing them.
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UPDATE:
After all, this might well be just a rare atmospheric phenomenon occurred by coincidence. Though, just wondering if there's any possibility the formation of such rare clouds be catalyzed by any event??

I guess some of you might find the following articles interesting.
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/print/2367
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12112...
http://environment.newscientist.com/a...

For Chinese readers: (about the poem that predicting the quake)
四川強震／李白「壓箱詩」預言？　純屬網路謠言！
http://www.nownews.com/2008/05/21/162...

• Category

  Science & Technology

[mra23413]

If this was the first time I've ever seen part of a rainbow in a cloud I might be a little worried, but it's not

[upscalecosmetics]

HAARP!

[djsnakeyes]

HAARP!

[LazyJones1]

It's just a circumhorizon arc.

Not HAARP, not planes or chemicals, no unnatural mumbojumbo. Just a natural, logical, well-founded and documented explanation of an optical refraction phenomenon.

And ELF's can't create auroras.

[kopfgeldjagar]

Looks like an aurora. Could be a ELF transmitter in action.

[MatteJz]

nothing special..i saw this "phenomenon" today in sweden..seen it the whole summer no..There planes "spraying that shit over us..

[LazyJones1]

Gamma rays aren't visible, and do not cause any visible effects when interacting with the atmosphere. They also don't care about the magnetic field in the first place, since gamma rays have no electric charge. Gamma rays are pure energy, and are no less affected by the magnetic field than pure light is,

This is a circumhorizon arc. No plate tectonics involved.Look it up :)

[26Subduction]

Tectonic plates shifting distorted the magnetic field allowing gama rays 2 enter.

[Ashley Michelle]

i just saw one :/ im getting worried