View Single Post
  #3   Report Post  
Old October 25th 06, 07:47 PM posted to uk.sci.weather
Mike Tullett Mike Tullett is offline
external usenet poster
 
First recorded activity by Weather-Banter: Aug 2006
Posts: 17
Default Supernumerary Rainbows seen this evening

On 24 Oct 2006 18:40:46 -0700, Tudor Hughes wrote in
ups.com

http://www.mtullett.plus.com/24-oct-2006/


Excellent pics. There is a secondary bow visible also in some
of them. The supernumerary bows are caused by diffraction and I wonder
if they are more likely if the drops are smaller. Was that so in this
case?


According to Les Cowley's site [1] "Supernumeraries are created by small,
almost same sized raindrops." And there is a simulation there using 0.7mm
mean diameter drops, all about the same size.

I wasn't aware of any falling rain when the rainbows were first seen, so
was very surprised to see them. How big the drops were~? Pass:-)

[1] http://www.sundog.clara.co.uk/rainbows/supers.htm


--
Mike Coleraine 55.13°N 6.69°W posted 25/10/2006 18:47:42 GMT