12 KM Ferry Observation #2 - Contrast of Conditions. @heathcarmody2867

Heath Carmody | 12 KM Ferry Observation #2 - Contrast of Conditions. @heathcarmody2867 | Uploaded June 2021 | Updated October 2024, 1 day ago.
I wanted to highlight the contrast between conditions on my first visit to this location vs. the second observation. After that is a short time lapse from my waterproof camera a few inches above water. It shows how dramatically the conditions changed when the wind picked up and some heavy cloud cover rolled over the lake.

$A Classic Hafgerdingar, but its Inferior Mirage? I dont do this very often but I dont have time to edit and produce the videos I want to make right now, so here is an entire recording from observation #10. This observation clip had enough going on that I didnt need to edit it at all. Except I edited some audio to mute some of the camera scraping on rocks sounds and some dumb things I said out loud. No subtitles or extra narration. I want to start more of a discussion about superior mirages in general and thought this video would stir up some conversation. An interesting read about Hafgerdingars and what allegedly causes them. https://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~lehn/_Papers_for_Download/PolarRecord-hafg.pdf My simple explanation: My observation is best explained as a result of looking through multiple vertical columns with different refractive gradients (possibly sloped boundary layers as well) on a flat plane. Each column bends light only slightly up or down, but overall averaging to upward refraction (sinking), enough to cause a close false horizon but with all the land visible above it. The bulk of the mirage occurs below eye level and the real image is always above the highest fold line, even if distorted. There may be times when parts of the water or land appear to loom up higher than eye level but they are rare. There may be small superior mirages occurring higher up in the trees but these would be superior mirages of a superior mirage on a globe. Further detailed explanation pending. Feel free to state your claim or explanation for a globe model producing this effect primarily as a superior mirage. Im happy to answer any questions about the observation. Things you should know about this observation to draw your own conclusions: - Taken just after I packed up all my other cameras, which were still showing normal(ish) inferior mirage from lower elevations minutes before this. (footage will be shown eventually) - About 3-4, maybe 5 max? meters camera elevation. I know I said 2-3 in the video but it had to be at least 3 meters. Next time I go back I can get a better height estimate, especially if it becomes a point of contention. - Observation wasnt planned, I just noticed something interesting happening from slightly higher than the surface as I was leaving and decided to record for a bit, not intending to eventually prove anything with the footage. - Full frame wavy distortion is a result of being almost on the ground, looking over a ramp of rocky beach about 30-50 meters to the water (more beach when looking on the right side of the lake vs. the ferry side) In direct sunlight as well. See my upcoming video about how strong refraction is over land. I should have put the camera on a tripod but I was all packed up. Next time. - All of the land (and water) at all of the distances (up to about 35 KM) is visible during most of the mirage sequence. I will show this in a future video or live stream. Is this effect in general, the result of a massive temperature inversion? Steep enough to cause circulating rays at the surface, and getting steeper with height? How hot do you think it gets up high in the mountains in early spring? Is this even the same effect that would be attributed to a superior mirage on a globe? There should be enough information in the observation to understand why this cant be a superior mirage. If not, I can make it clear in a future video or live stream. But does that mean I think superior mirages dont exist? I dont know, but Im working on finding out and so are others. What Im finding is very interesting. What do you think is happening here?$ $Most Dynamic Refraction Award Contender - 2022$ $When is it the Least Refracted? (and how do you know?)$

$An Observation for each Earth Model! After a long summer break from making new observations and videos, I decided to get back out to the lakes a few more times before the snow starts falling and Im unable to access my usual spots for another 4-5 months! I made 3 observations at 3 different locations, on 3 different days, for about 3 hours each. This video contains a short clip from each observation, from the lowest of my 2 or 3 cameras. They were fairly boring observations where optical conditions didnt change much. Consistent observations like these arent great for musical time lapse videos, but they are good for comparing basic Earth model expectations. This video asks the viewer to determine which observation clip best matches the geometric expectations (ignoring refraction for now) of each Earth model, using only a rough eye level reference that Ive estimated. Its a simple exercise that may hopefully lead to some discussion about observations over water and what we can actually evidence with them. Ill provide more information and footage from each observation on request, until I get more time to make longer videos about each observation.$ $Speedboat Tracker Pro Another short, effortless video! Heres a small boat I tracked with a not quite level camera, disappearing into the inferior mirage with distance, being obstructed optically due to upward refraction. Or maybe it is going over the curve of the Earth. Or maybe some of each? Whatever it looks like to you! Camera height was a little more than a meter, if that helps anyone. I couldnt see the top of the boat in my viewfinder anymore at the end, even though it was still barely visible.$ $Real or Photo Effects? Some random photos (or video stills) from 2 observations looking at things within about 2 km distance. The effect created by refraction looks like a photoshop type filter or effect has been applied. Are they all real and unedited? How would you tell? Why would you care? I dont use photoshop but there are some effects in GIMP and Resolve Studio that look very similar to the effects Ive captured.. It really shows well when there is something in the immediate foreground that is not as affected by the distortion. The effect is a little different every time and depending how far and how close to the ground, but it is almost always as strong regardless of conditions. In other words, I could have taken similar captures from any of my observations (since I always get some close shots), but I chose 2 where I had a fair bit of footage of close targets.$ $Flat Earth: The Strongest Inferior Mirage - part 2 Ive spent hours logging inferior mirages and trying to demonstrate that the optical effects of upward refraction cause obstruction similar to earth curvature. When refraction is very strong it is easy to demonstrate that refraction is responsible for the obstruction of close targets where there shouldnt be any, but not responsible for all of the obstruction when there should be some according to the globe model. This one is a little heavy on the subtitles and shaky camera footage. I work with what I have!$ $Lake of Fire - Observation February 9th, 2021 We tend to associate strong inferior mirage with extremely hot temperatures. Of course its the temperature gradient that determines the strength of mirage and not the actual temperatures. A 15°C difference between air and water temperatures, combined with strong winds on the lake surface, made for some interesting mirage and a steamy appearing lake. Unfortunately, it was too cold to do any tests or time lapse, but it was nice to capture another extreme refraction day.$