Cruise ship appears to float in air off Devon coast in optical illusion
‘Superior mirage’ occurs during temperature inversion, in which warm air sits on top of cold air
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A cruise ship appears to float above the surface of the sea off the coast of Devon in the latest image showing an unusual visual phenomenon called superior mirage.
The vessel, moored close to Lyme Bay, was shown in the photo apparently sitting out of the water thanks to a temperature inversion, in which warm air sits on a layer of cold air.
The Fata Morgana optical illusion results from the brain’s assumption that light travels in a straight line. When light bends due to a temperature inversion, the brain is tricked into thinking that the object is in the position it would be if the light's path was still straight.
There have been several such sightings in recent days, from Aberdeenshire to Cornwall, where last week a large tanker was photographed apparently floating near Falmouth.
Another cruise ship was spotted moored off the coast of Bournemouth, Dorset, in recent days.
Read more:
Penny Stuart, who spotted the Dorset mirage, told SWNS: “The light, the colours and the air all just felt beautiful and it was a really magic and peaceful moment.
”I have never seen anything quite like it so I got my phone out and caught it on camera.
“I just couldn't believe what I was seeing.”
BBC meteorologist David Braine said the mirage was common in the Arctic circle but was only rarely seen in the UK during winter.
He explained: “Superior mirages occur because of the weather condition known as a temperature inversion.”
Usually the air temperature drops as altitude rises, hence the peak of Ben Nevis being colder than Bournemouth beach, but in a temperature inversion warm air sits on top of a band of cold air and plays with the human eye's perception.
“Since cold air is denser than warm air, it bends light towards the eyes of someone standing on the ground or on the coast, changing how distant an object appears,” Mr Braine said.
“Superior mirages can produce a few different types of images, here a distant ship appears to float high above its actual position, but sometimes an object below the horizon can become visible.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments