Comparing Models from Test #4 (12 km observation #7) @heathcarmody2867

Heath Carmody | Comparing Models from Test #4 (12 km observation #7) @heathcarmody2867 | Uploaded December 2022 | Updated October 2024, 1 day ago.
Using the 10 'swanalyzed' ferry passes from my last video, I determined the closest match (apparent radius) for each model (globe, flat, concave) and presented a basic model comparison along with some raw 4K footage from the shoreline camera. This is comparing a height of 11 meters on the ferry to my calculated eye level relative to the camera.

The swanalyzer is a tool I made for comparing apparent geometry to actual geometry. Its accuracy is limited to the accuracy of the given inputs (distances, camera height, FOV). I'll be producing a video soon explaining the accuracy 'bottlenecks' and what I can do to mitigate them in future tests. I'll also be updating the swanalyzer to support a concave model.

$Demonstration of a Close Upward Refracting Gradient$ $InFerryOr Mirage - Sans Ferry Yet another video from observation #11 at Shelter Bay ferry - far side weekend beach. The ferry, that I normally capture travelling to the far dock and back, was docked and being serviced or repaired for the entire 6 hours I was there. I set up my camera looking across about 5 km to the far shore, from a height of about 7-8 inches. This is a continuous time lapse from mid morning to mid afternoon. The camera moved around a few times when I had to reposition the shade umbrella, but the height remained the same throughout. Very hot day but still typical for the few weeks preceding it. Mornings are generally the best time to capture any sort of convex-ish illusions as a result of upward refraction, in my opinion. The expected strong inferior mirage eventually disappears, revealing near perfect flat geometry for a brief moment, before the concave compression sets in for the rest of the observation. Extreme heat distortion accompanies the tiny concave view. This was one of my better transitions, but still hard to compare and analyze, especially without the ferry in view. For that reason, this video makes no claims and contains no subtitles and no sarcastic globe evidence. Just lightly edited observation footage sped up and synced to loud electronic music.$

A Quick Look at Inferior Mirage, Reflection and Bands

Straight Lines, Curves and Triangles pt. 1

Shelter Bay Ferry - Inferior Mirage Highlights #1 - new observation 2021!

$Beyond Concave Displacement Wave From the boat launch above the dam. Observation #5, June 8th, 2023. Ive captured similar effects a few times, but never very well. This was no exception. These events catch me off guard because they usually appear first in the areas Im not watching. They are easily visible to the naked eye at this distance. Ive seen similar effects in some of @pablosdog2808 , @theplanetruth and @wideawake2814 s observations as well. Ill link some videos with similar effects in a comment if I get around to it. I only capture this phenomenon when there is a strong concave appearance to the water surface (appearing elevated above horizontal). The effect is kind of like moving a magnifying glass across an image. The already looming water gets even more displaced upwards, stretched and warped. It sometimes appears to fold back in on itself. Some might describe this as a distorted superior mirage of the water surface. That may be the case, but I think more likely that the cause of classic superior mirages involves both upward and downward refraction at different distances, and this is likely no different. The extra displacement is possibly due to a relatively cold air mass moving across the deep part of the lake, that dissipates as it mixes with the warmer air closer to land. Each band represents a slightly different viewing angle to the water. This is evident later in the video when you see how the first dark band is formed by downward displacement (we are seeing that water from a lower angle). Ill be releasing a few more videos from my first 5 similar observations at this location, and Ill explain more about the bands and displacement - the way Ive been starting to understand it. As for the overall strong upward displacement, my measurements are rough with the distortion of the campground, but give a pretty good idea of the geometry involved. If anything, I think my eye level estimate is a little high. Feel free to challenge me on anything if you can tell me how it makes a difference in the flat vs. globe debate. Like if someone said The looming limit for the globe is 3x the expected drop, so 3.6x could only happen on a flat plane then I would try to verify my numbers better. Final notes: This was the hottest day of the week, hottest time of the day, and I went to the super busy boat launch in the early evening to capture this familiar high upward displacement/compression and distorted concave appearance. I also captured similar effects the first 4 observations here this year, and dozens of observations in the past years.$

More 4K Observation Time Lapse set to Music!

12 KM Ferry Observation #2 - Contrast of Conditions.

$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?$ $Most Dynamic Refraction Award Contender - 2022$ $When is it the Least Refracted? (and how do you know?)$