novaya zemlya effect

reesetee commented on the word novaya zemlya effect

A rare effect that occurs as the long polar night draws to a close. The sun suddenly appears to burst above the horizon weeks ahead of schedule. It is basically a polar mirage. Even when the sun is still 5° below the horizon, its light can become trapped between thermoclines and be transmitted over the usual horizon. The atmospheric ducts act much like flat light pipes. The sun's image is grossly distorted, quite different from the high-quality mirages sometimes seen over hundreds of miles in the polar latitudes.

September 23, 2007