Rainbows, Halos, and Glories

by Robert Greenler and Greenler

Book Overview

Over two hundred illustrations, many in full color, capture for both the layman and scientist the beautiful optical effects that we see in the sky. The author describes and explains these effects in non-technical language. In addition to discussing such well-known phenomena as rainbows and halos, he treats the rarer ones, including sun pillars, sun dogs, glories, and mirages. Computer simulations and simplified mathematical models are used to make...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1510638377
• ISBN13: 9781510638372
• Release Date: September 2020
• Publisher: SPIE-International Society for Optical Engine
• Length: 238 Pages

Customer Reviews

The definitive textbook on atmospheric optical phenomena.

This is the standard textbook on atmospheric optical effects, by the Professor of Physics at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. His book features precise explanations of the physics behind all optical atmospheric phenomena, from halos and parhelia to sun pillars, Parry's arcs, glories and the "Spectre of the Brocken". Computer modeling is used to recreate light rays through ice crystals in various orientations to explain the changing shapes of atmospheric optical effects with different angles between the sun and the horizon. But scientific precision also comes with a very readable text. Over a hundred color photographs illustrate some of the beautiful visual effects that can be seen in the sky. Interesting sidelines are also explored, such as making and photographing your own infra-red rainbow! Finally, various intriguing puzzles are left for the reader to solve, such as the photograph shown on the cover of the book - how can there be a rainbow over a snow-covered landscape? For those who really want to understand the optics of atmospheric effects, this book is required reading.