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White rainbow: Ghostly fogbow pictured on the coast

02:00 PM
February 23, 2025

White rainbow
Ghostly fogbow pictured on the coast

Fogbow pictured over harbour with ship moored in the background.A fogbow pictured over Stralsund, Germany. - © Klaus Haase

A ghostly looking rainbow, known as a fogbow, was pictured by a user on the coast of northern Germany.

The phenomenon occurs when sunlight interacts with tiny water droplets suspended in the air contained in fog, mist and low clouds.

In contrast to rainbows, the water droplets that make up these so-called fogbows are much smaller, measuring 0.1 mm across.

Rainbows are formed when sunlight enters raindrops and splits into seven colors as it travels through the water in a process known as refraction.

In a fog bow, the smaller size of the water droplets means that the sunlight is diffracted before reaching our eyes.

Leading to a white “rainbow” drained of color. If you spot one, send it in via the uploader!

Weather & Radar USA editorial team
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