© Edward Graham
Loch na h-Aibhne Ruaidhe, Isle of Lewis, Scotland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Latitude: 58° 2' 15'' N
Longitude: 6° 43' 3'' W
18 December 2011 1300 (Local Time)
Camera direction: towards NNW
Image P/S code: P.13.5.5
Image I.D.: 4695
Rare multiple rainbows are seen in this photograph, taken at Loch na h-Aibhne Ruaidhe on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, UK, at about 1300 hours on 18 December 2011.
The original image is on the left, while on the right is a digitally enhanced version with increased contrast and colour saturation. The fainter bows are more clearly visible in the enhanced image, and a total of seven bows can be seen.
The bows are:primary, secondary, reflection primary, reflected primary, reflected secondary, reflected reflection primary and a very faint reflected reflection secondary.
Sunlight reflected upwards from the smooth loch (lake) surface before reaching the raindrops was responsible for the reflection bow. The loch was partially frozen, with only a thin layer of water on top of the ice. This prevented waves from forming on the surface of the loch, despite a light to moderate breeze.
The reflected bows were produced by sunlight reflected from the loch after the sunlight has passed through raindrops. This reflection inverts the rainbow, and the bow centre is then above the horizon.
The reflected reflection bows were formed when sunlight reflected upwards from the water to meet the raindrops, and the resulting rainbow rays of light then reflected off the water to the observer.
Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.