© Mila Zinkova

Pacifica, California, United States of America

Latitude: 37° 35' 48'' N

Longitude: 122° 30' 36'' W

27 January 2016 1558 (Local Time)

Image P/S code: P.13.5.7

Image I.D.: 4631

• Images & related info Other Images Images of 1987 edition
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  Sea spray bow

  This sea spray bow (a type of “rainbow”) occurred as a result of refraction and reflection of sunlight in a “screen” of spray, which was created by water droplets blown by the wind from waves breaking on the coast of California, USA.  

  Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.

  © Mila Zinkova
  Pacifica, California, United States of America
  Latitude: 37° 35' 48'' N
  Longitude: 122° 30' 36'' W
  27 January 2016 1558 (Local Time)
  
  
  Image P/S code: P.13.5.7
  Image I.D.: 4631
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  Spray and a sea spray bow

  Spray is an ensemble of water droplets torn by the wind from the surface of an extensive body of water, generally from the crests of waves, and carried up a short distance into the air.

  In this picture, the extensive body of water is the Pacific Ocean and the wind is blowing spray from the crests of waves breaking at Pacifica on the coast of California, USA.

  With the Sun shining, a sea spray bow has formed in the “screen” of spray.

  Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.

  © Mila Zinkova
  Pacifica, California, United States of America
  Latitude: 37° 35' 51'' N
  Longitude: 122° 30' 46'' W
  27 January 2016 1514 (Local Time)
  
  
  Image P/S code: P.11.3.3
  Image I.D.: 4633
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  Sea spray bow

  Rainbows occur when light from the Sun or Moon is reflected and refracted by a large number of water drops. The water drops need not necessarily be rain. In this picture the bow is formed on a screen of sea spray from waves breaking onto the coast at Pacifica in California, USA. This type of bow is known as a sea spray bow.

  The full circle of the bow is seen because some spray is near to the ground, lower than the observer's camera, and so the observer's vantage point is effectively elevated. The centre of the bow is directly opposite the Sun at the antisolar point, centred on the part of the observer's shadow where the camera is held.

  Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.

  © Mila Zinkova
  Pacifica, California, United States of America
  Latitude: 37° 38' 24'' N
  Longitude: 122° 29' 38'' W
  23 March 2016 0900 (Local Time)
  
  
  Image P/S code: S.13.5.7
  Image I.D.: 4655
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  Stratus cataractagenitus and spray bow

  Clouds may form locally in the vicinity of large waterfalls as a consequence of water being broken up into spray by the falls. The downdraught caused by the falling water is compensated by the locally ascending motion of the air, from which clouds may condense.

  This picture shows a spray bow formed by the refraction of sunlight by the drops of water spray, but above this the ascending air has condensed to form cloud; this is Stratus cataractagenitus.  

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  © Yoshiaki Sato
  Niagara Falls, NY, United States of America
  Latitude: 43° 4' 48'' N
  Longitude: 79° 4' 28'' W
  31 August 2008 0830 (Local Time)
  
  
  Camera direction: towards W
  C_L = 5, C_M = 0, C_H = 0
  Image P/S code: S.8.14 1
  Image I.D.: 4955