© Seiji Miyauchi

Syowa Station, Antarctica

Latitude: 69° 0' 0'' S

Longitude: 39° 34' 48'' E

24 May 1995 1100 (Local Time)
Camera direction: towards N

Image P/S code: P.13.7.4

Image I.D.: 4661

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  Novaya Zemlya effect

  The Novaya Zemlya effect, named after the island between the Barents Sea and the Kara Sea where it was first observed in 1597, is the premature sighting of the Sun at the end of the polar winter night. This mirage gives the impression of the Sun rising, when astronomically the Sun is still below the horizon.

  The mirage is caused by strong refraction of sunlight through a large-scale temperature inversion with sharp thermocline (optical ducting). The light is bent along the Earth's curvature over a great distance and a distorted Sun in the form of a line, several lines stacked above each other or a rectangular shape is seen above the horizon when the actual position of the Sun is still below the horizon. 

  This photograph, taken from the Japanese Syowa Station in Antarctica, illustrates the mirage effect, showing a rectangular-shaped Sun along with superior mirage images of icebergs. As the Sun did actually rise on this occasion at the Syowa Station, this is technically not the true Novaya Zemlya effect. Nevertheless, the photograph does give a good illustration of the mirage effect where a miraged image of the Sun is seen when the Sun's true position is still below the horizon.  

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  © Seiji Miyauchi
  Syowa Station, Antarctica
  Latitude: 69° 0' 0'' S
  Longitude: 39° 34' 48'' E
  24 May 1995 1100 (Local Time)
  
  
  Camera direction: towards N
  Image P/S code: P.13.7.4
  Image I.D.: 4661