7 Rare Rainbow Formations

7 Rare Rainbow Formations

Circular rainbows: Most of the rainbows we see are actually arcs of perfect circles (with, accordingly, radii of exactly 42 degrees).

Secondary rainbows: Primary rainbows are often accompanied by secondary rainbows that are usually thinner and dimmer than the main rainbow. They display the spectrum in reverse order from that of a primary rainbow. 

Red rainbows: Red rainbows are usually seen at sunrise or sunset when the thickness of the earth’s atmosphere filters out blue light leaving more red or orange light for water droplets to reflect and refract. 

Sundog: Sundogs are not rainbows per se, but share many of their visible attributes. Sundogs are created when sunlight shines through ice crystals high in the atmosphere.

Fogbow: Fogbows are much rarer than rainbows because certain narrow parameters must align to create them. For one, the light source must be behind the observer and low to the ground. Also, any fog to the rear of the observer must be very thin so that sunlight can shine through to the thicker fog in front.

Fire rainbows: Fire rainbows are not true rainbows. The phenomenon (called a “circumhorizontal arc”) can only be viewed under certain precise conditions: the cirrus clouds that act as prisms must be at least 20,000 feet high and the sun must strike them when it is at an elevation of 58 to 68 degrees.

Moonbow: Moonbows are much more difficult to witness due to the requirement of a passing rainstorm and, ideally, a bright full moon unblocked by clouds.

secondary rainbows? the fuck. DOUBLE RAINBOW!!!!

(via wildhearts)

Source: thegrownupkid2

28678 Notes/ Hide

  1. mikaeradesu reblogged this from ohitsmeekah
  2. mojojojo449 reblogged this from skyuki
  3. skyuki reblogged this from rhythm-of-time
  4. rainbwmanshe reblogged this from anigmel
  5. particelleinstabili reblogged this from pa-pa-pa-la
  6. inadra reblogged this from warrior-worrier
  7. dudeitsdon reblogged this from dominicky
  8. delenaxd reblogged this from rhythm-of-time
  9. idontthink-feels-shouldbeokay reblogged this from propertyoflokilaufeyson
  10. propertyoflokilaufeyson reblogged this from theavidreader
  11. dominicky reblogged this from theavidreader
  12. sergiohouses reblogged this from rhythm-of-time
  13. anigmel reblogged this from quincyrobin3
  14. theavidreader reblogged this from rhythm-of-time
  15. quincyrobin3 reblogged this from relaxitsjordyjor
  16. relaxitsjordyjor reblogged this from rhythm-of-time
  17. miimii-le reblogged this from kneenee
  18. loveleesanity reblogged this from rhythm-of-time
  19. kneenee reblogged this from rhythm-of-time
  20. rhythm-of-time reblogged this from micheellelee
  21. tofudragon reblogged this from skittlesness
  22. andineedyounow2 reblogged this from rainbowbonkers
  23. dmcanonymous reblogged this from altymon
  24. altymon reblogged this from thegrownupkid2
  25. pretty-rage-machine reblogged this from speakerphones
  26. speakerphones reblogged this from pineapplebananacurry