Multiple temperature inversion layers, abnormally warmer air above cooler, produced the mock-mirage. The setting sun's rays are refracted by the unusual atmospheric density gradients to produce multiple images. Watch the video to see the topmost solar image 'A' slowly sink. Within the main inversion layer the upper solar slice 'B' is upside-down and rises. The lower image 'C' descends. Below them there are further inversions and images.
The movie was taken 130 feet above sea level (mirages are very height dependent). "It was digiscoped with a little Sony point-and-shoot and a Swarovski scope at 20x." |
