Heath Carmody | A Classic Hafgerdingar, but it's Inferior Mirage? @heathcarmody2867 | Uploaded May 2021 | Updated October 2024, 1 day ago.
I don't do this very often but I don't 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 didn't 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.
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. I'm 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 wasn't 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 can't 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 don't exist? I don't know, but I'm working on finding out and so are others. What I'm finding is very interesting. What do you think is happening here?
I don't do this very often but I don't 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 didn't 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.
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. I'm 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 wasn't 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 can't 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 don't exist? I don't know, but I'm working on finding out and so are others. What I'm finding is very interesting. What do you think is happening here?
