Miraculous or mirage?

2001/04/05 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Fisika

The photo was taken by the professor of mathematics at Turku University in Finland, Pekka Parviain. This type of wonder is not so common if the water layer is calm, if the sky is clear and the atmospheric state is stable. The photo is an example of mirror on the top. In them, the image of a distant object is reflected above and it is easy to occur in early spring, when the water is still cold but the air begins to warm.

The presence of hot air on cold water causes an atmospheric investment. Thus, the rays of light that normally go straight change direction and things, instead of being where they should be, fly or emerge or change their appearance.

That's what happens in the photo, although the boat appears normally, the rear island looks very distorted.