The Science Behind Mirages: Explained
Mirages occur when light rays bend due to the refraction caused by layers of air at different temperatures. These optical phenomena are not illusions but distorted images of real objects. Superior mirages occur when light bends towards colder, denser air near the surface, making objects appear higher than they actually are. Inferior mirages occur when light bends upward towards cooler air above warmer surfaces, creating the illusion of a water surface on the ground. Mirages are highly dependent on position and receiving angle, and they can be fleeting and difficult to observe.