Tuesday 22 November 2016

EM Spectrum - White Rainbows?

Definitely one to add to the lectures on the EM Spectrum - Fog Bows. Original story taken from BBC News

Explanation from NASA

The fogbow's lack of colors is caused by the smaller water drops ... so small that the wavelength of light becomes important. Diffraction smears out colors that would be created by larger rainbow water drops.








3 comments:

  1. How common is this phenomenon and is it only visible in limited locations?
    Am I also allowed to ask about the crock of gold? Or would it be silver?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Supposedly quite rare - and only visible when viewed through fog or something similar, i.e.e water vapour. I've never seen one but I have occasionally noticed similar halos in spray thrown up by motorboats if you are low enough when you look out to sea.

      Delete
  2. Another delicious word - Fog Bows - right up there with my favourite - Bog Bursts.

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My name is Conor. I am a Lecturer at the Department of Geography at Maynooth University. These few lines will (hopefully) chart my progress through academia and the world of research.