December 4th 2024.
A rare and stunning sight was witnessed by many when a white rainbow appeared over Crowdy Head in New South Wales. The sight left many people wondering what exactly it was and how it came to be. The scientific term for this phenomenon is "fogbow," and it occurs when sunlight interacts with water droplets inside a fog, rather than raindrops. But what exactly is a white rainbow and how does it differ from a regular rainbow?
According to Jonathan How from the Bureau of Meteorology, fogbows are quite similar to rainbows in terms of the processes involved. "You still have the same sun behind you and the fog or rain in front of you," he explained. "The main difference is the size of the water droplets within the bow itself." In the case of fogbows, the water droplets are much smaller compared to those in a regular rainbow, which gives it a white appearance.
The size of the droplets also affects the way light is scattered, resulting in a diffused and wispy appearance for fogbows. "The smaller the droplet, the more white it will appear," How added. "On the other hand, a larger raindrop will produce a more defined and vibrant rainbow." This unique optical effect is what makes fogbows such a fascinating sight.
But just how rare are white rainbows? According to How, they are definitely more rare than regular rainbows. "With fog, you need just the right conditions," he said. "Sometimes, even if you're surrounded by fog, you may not see a fogbow because the sun isn't in the right position or you're not in the right spot." Unlike regular rainbows, which are more common, fogbows require specific conditions to occur.
If you're hoping to catch a glimpse of a fogbow, winter is your best chance. "As the sun rises and the fog starts to clear, that's when you have the best chance of seeing a fogbow," How explained. "But everything needs to line up perfectly." This makes it a rare and special sight to witness.
While most of us are familiar with regular rainbows, there are actually several types of rainbows, including double and triple rainbows. How mentioned that while fogbows are not technically classified as a rainbow, they have similar optics and are just as spectacular. "I would even say they're no less impressive, even though they lack the vibrant colors," How said.
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