aureole (redirected from aureola)

aureole, in physics

aureole (ôr`ēōl'), in physics, luminous circle seen when the sun or other bright light is observed through a diffuse medium, i.e., smoke, thin cloud, fog, haze, or mist. It sometimes occurs as a series of concentric circles. The aureole results from the dispersion of light by particles of dust or water. Because of the refraction of the light waves, it exhibits color in varying intensities. In geology, an aureole zone is where rocks show the effect of contacting intruding, hot igneous rock, also called contact metamorphism.

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aureole, in art

aureole, in art: see nimbus.

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aureole, aureola

1. (esp in paintings of Christian saints and the deity) a border of light or radiance enveloping the head or sometimes the whole of a figure represented as holy

2. another name for corona

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aureole [′ȯr·ē‚ōl]

(geology)

A ring-shaped contact zone surrounding an igneous intrusion. Also known as contact aureole; contact zone; exomorphic zone; metamorphic aureole; metamorphic zone; thermal aureole.

(meteorology)

A poorly developed corona in the atmosphere characterized by a bluish-white disk immediately around the luminous celestial body, as around the sun or moon in the fog.