{"id":6671,"date":"2014-06-13T19:19:57","date_gmt":"2014-06-13T16:19:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uni-mag.gr\/what-is-aeolus-2\/"},"modified":"2023-07-12T11:23:54","modified_gmt":"2023-07-12T08:23:54","slug":"what-is-fata-morgana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uni-mag.gr\/en\/what-is-fata-morgana\/","title":{"rendered":"WHAT IS: Fata Morgana"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As the photo shows, the ship appears to be in the air, above the horizontal line of the sea. This is precisely the phenomenon of the Fata Morgana. It is a strange optical phenomenon due to a temperature inversion of touching atmospheric layers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s not a common occurrence. It is usually seen in the morning hours. It was recently observed and photographed in Cornwall, Thessaloniki, and Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The phenomenon is caused when warm air currents rise above denser cold air currents. Due to the temperature difference, these layers of air are characterized by a different refractive index. The interaction between layers of air of different temperatures acts like a refracting lens, with the result that the image of the distant object reaches the observer altered, doubled, and inverted (not always).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The name “Fata Morgana” is the Italian version of the medieval English name Morgana or Morgana le Fay, the witch and half-sister of King Arthur. In early versions of the myth she appears as a good fairy who has the ability to heal, but in other versions she is shown trying to overthrow Arthur from the throne by magical means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fata Morgana is also associated with the island of Sicily, where \u2013 according to local medieval tradition \u2013 her enchanted kingdom was located. From her magical palace, near the volcano of Etna, she caused the optical phenomenon of the same name that was observed on the coasts of the island, and especially in the Strait of Messina that separates Sicily from the Italian peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The next photo clearly shows what kind of optical illusions can be created when the refractive indices are different. In this particular case, the refractive index of water is different from the refractive index of air, with the result that the pencil appears cut at the surface where the two media touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generally:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. you shouldn’t trust your eyes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. we would not have such phenomena if the Earth had no atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The song presented is by the poet and sailor Nikos Kavadias, set to music and sung by Mariza Koch. Certainly, Kavadias had seen Fata Morgana on his sea voyages!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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