5 Unusual rainbows - Amazing Weather
- last year
You might have heard of the first unusual rainbow on this list - the double rainbow - but how about a fogbow? Or a full circle rainbow? Discover the science behind 5 of the most unusual rainbow types and where you might be lucky enough to find them.
Double Rainbows_
A traditional rainbow is formed when light reflects through a raindrop into our eyes. In a double rainbow, this sunlight reflects twice, at slightly different angles.
Full circle rainbow _
Can be seen when water droplets are present in the sky below your horizon.
You are most likely to see one from an aircraft, or on top of a tall building or mountain.
Fog bow_
Fog bows demonstrate how the sizes of raindrops produce different intensity of colour. Large raindrops, such as those found in thunderstorms, produce vivid rainbows. Whereas fine droplets found in cloud or fog smear out the colours, producing almost colourless bows
Monochrome rainbows_
At sunset and sunrise, rays have further to travel through the lower atmosphere to reach your eyes.
Short wavelength blues and greens are scattered more strongly at this time. This leaves the remaining transmitted light richer in reds and yellows.
Fire rainbow
Whilst known as a fire rainbow, this is in fact circumhorizontal arcs, a type of halo. Haloes form when light refracts through ice crystals in clouds at high-altitude.
Music: Alex Nekita - Happy family road trip to the coast
Double Rainbows_
A traditional rainbow is formed when light reflects through a raindrop into our eyes. In a double rainbow, this sunlight reflects twice, at slightly different angles.
Full circle rainbow _
Can be seen when water droplets are present in the sky below your horizon.
You are most likely to see one from an aircraft, or on top of a tall building or mountain.
Fog bow_
Fog bows demonstrate how the sizes of raindrops produce different intensity of colour. Large raindrops, such as those found in thunderstorms, produce vivid rainbows. Whereas fine droplets found in cloud or fog smear out the colours, producing almost colourless bows
Monochrome rainbows_
At sunset and sunrise, rays have further to travel through the lower atmosphere to reach your eyes.
Short wavelength blues and greens are scattered more strongly at this time. This leaves the remaining transmitted light richer in reds and yellows.
Fire rainbow
Whilst known as a fire rainbow, this is in fact circumhorizontal arcs, a type of halo. Haloes form when light refracts through ice crystals in clouds at high-altitude.
Music: Alex Nekita - Happy family road trip to the coast