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SBEver see a rainbow in the fog? That’s called a fogbow!☁️🌈☁️
Fogbows form just like rainbows do—when sunlight bends, reflects, and scatters through water droplets. But in fog, those droplets are much smaller than raindrops (often less than 0.05 mm wide). Because they’re so tiny, the light waves spread out and overlap instead of separating cleanly into distinct colors. The result? The colors blur together into a pale arc, sometimes (like today!) with faint colors.
Scientists call this effect diffraction, and it’s the same reason fogbows look wider, softer, and more ethereal than rainbows. They’re quiet. Subtle. Easy to miss. And when you spot one, it feels like the sky is letting you in on a secret.
Fogbows usually appear in fog or mist with the sun low in the sky and behind you. Look for them on the next foggy morning! They are a reminder that sometimes the most magical things are quietly, beautifully subtle. 🌈
#Fogbow #santabarbara #fog #cleanwater #SkyScience
@sbchannelkeeper
