Inferior mirage of yachts (IMG_6506f)

            This picture shows an 'inferior mirage' of three yachts sailing on the Aegean Sea, between the Greek island of Kos and Turkey. The photograph was taken on 13 June 2023 from Dimitra Beach, Agios Fokas on Kos. The coastline in the background, some 14 to 18 Km away, is part of Turkey. The 3 inset images are   selected parts of the main picture showing the yachts and mirage features in more detail.

A mirage is a real optical phenomenon produced when light is refracted, or bent, by passing through layers of air of different temperature / density.

Mirages typically are distant features and therefore this picture records telephoto / zoomed views; initially taken through a 300 mm lens, but with all the images further cropped. The three small inset images are selected parts of the background photo that have been substantially cropped.  

The original scene was photographed through fairly hazy conditions so, for better clarity, the 'levels' of the photographic image have been adjusted to increase the contrast.   

An 'inferior mirage' occurs when there is a strong vertical temperature gradient near the ground / sea surface with warmer air at the surface and cooler air above. Rays of light from distant objects are refracted as they pass through this temperature gradient and are bent upwards towards the observer. From the view of the observer, therefore, the miraged image appears displaced downwards and is lower than the apparent 'real' image. This type of mirage is called 'inferior' to denote that the miraged image appears lower than the normal image. The miraged image is also inverted.

The miraged, inverted image of the lower part of the three yachts can be seen in the picture just above the apparent sea surface - {best seen in the inset images}. The horizontal level where their normal upright images meet the inverted miraged images is called the vanishing line. Note that the land in the background below this level is also miraged, and this obscures the true sea horizon. The apparently choppy sea horizon, therefore, is in fact the lower edge of the mirage rather than true waves.

Taken in: Greece / South Aegean / Kos / Ágios Fokás (show map)

Taken on: June 13, 2023

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inferior mirage

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Kos island

island of Kos

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Turkey

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Sets appears in: • Kos (Greek Island) • Mirages

Groups appears in: • Boats • Science Nerd Depot more » • Science, Art and Tech • Scientist Photographers • Refraction • Boats n' stuff • Atmospheric Optics, and Rare Clouds • The Art of Science • Natural Phenomenon • Science! • Science in pictures • Boats of All Kind • fata morgana • For The Love Of Science! • I love Boats • Seascape/Landscape Junkies Worldwide • Seascape Photographers • La Optica Atmosférica / The Atmospheric Optics • Scientific Photographers • boating pics • Boats, Yachts And Ships (No 30/60 Groups Rule) • optical phenomena « less

Camera: Canon EOS 6D Mark II, f/9.0, 1/640 sec, 300mm, ISO 160 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 6D Mark II
Lens:	EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM
Aperture:	f/9.0
Exposure Time:	0.002 sec (1/640)
Focal Length:	300mm
ISO:	160
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Elements 18.0 (Windows)
Show full info

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