Atmospheric Optics

ATMOSPHERIC OPTICS

Atmospheric Optics involves the study of the way 'mother nature' effects the propagation of light waves through the atmosphere.

As Light Waves behave in a similar manner to Radio waves (Light Waves are a much higher frequency), they have similar characteristics in the way they are propagated through the Atmosphere or Troposphere. As with 2m and 70cm wavelength radio frequencies, Light waves can be propagated in a similar manner, just to a much much lesser extent. For example on 2m or 70cm, Ducting or Temperature Inversion layers can preserve a radio wave signal for thousands of Kilometers. Similarly, with the right conditions and a strong enough Temperature Inversion gradient, Light Waves can also be preserved and propagated much further than normal. Cases have been noted of at least 200 Km. The general term for this situation is that the image is a 'Mirage'. In some situations, in radio terms, this would be a 'Duct' or 'Temperature Inversion'.

The most exciting and spectacular Mirage is the Superior Mirage, also at times termed the 'Fata Morgana'. Called the Superior Mirage because the image is actually viewed above where it would normally be. An Inferior Mirage is one seen below the normal visual location (such as on hot roads). I have included some photo's below of Superior Mirage's which are taken from my QTH near Wagga, NSW.

The images I have taken from my QTH are looking at the far horizon out west at Superior Mirages. These appear to be inverted images where the original image has been bent back at the viewer in an inverted state. Hence the ground and trees appear upside down a certain distance up in the air, dependant on the inversion height and strength in most of the images. Some parts of the images also appear to be stretched or preserved so they look larger than what they should be, as if they have been magnified or their image has been preserved for longer than usual and it appears at your eyes at a greater 'signal strength' so to speak.

Please see this information paper by Andrew T Young from May 2017, regarding Fata Morgana Mirages at Lake Geneva, Switzerland.

INVERSION IMAGES:

New images below taken morning, 3rd Oct 2017.

OLDER IMAGES HERE:

Inversion morning of the 4.11.03 - image of the Horizon, 15 to 25 km distant

Inversion morning of the 4.11.03 - image of the horizon, 15 to 25 km distant

Inversion morning of the 2.1.04 - image of Galore Hill, north end, 40 km distant

Inversion morning of the 2.1.04 - image of Galore Hill, south end, 40 km distant

Inversion morning of the 23.1.05 - image projected from over the normal horizon

Please click the following link to see an "Introduction to Mirages' by Andrew T Young. You can relate a lot of Andrews information to radio also. Andrew has added information about my images into his site. http://aty.sdsu.edu/mirages/mirintro.html

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