Met phenomenon
 

Guys and gals,

Please take a look at this rather spectacular picture, which won the AvWeb Picture of the Week competition:

http://www.avweb.com/newspics/winner_1015.jpg

Can someone please explain why everything (sea, sky and rock) is a couple of shades lighter inside the rainbow than it is outside? I'm just curious, that's all....

FFF
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Is the whole effect the product of a contaminated lens (by accident or design)? I mean, where is the moisture comming from to cause the rainbow?

Stirred a memory from long ago...

http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/staff/blynds/rnbw.html

..look for the section - "Why is the sky brighter inside a rainbow?"

regards,

Ed

Saw a complete circle rainbow one day whilst flying. Beautiful to see.

Never seem to be at the right place/weather/sun angle to have seen one again. But still a superb sight.

Eharding - thanks, your link seems to answer the question, and also contains lots of other interesting info!

TD&H - you need to speak to brockenspectre about that, although she hasn't posted on this forum for a while...

FFF
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TD&H,

I saw one of those circular rainbows too - a few years ago but have never forgotten it. I was flying from Swansea to Shobdon, and more or less flew through it. Spectacular, isn't it?