Home / Editor's Pick /

White rainbow: Ghostly fogbow pictured on the coast

11:26
20 February 2025

White rainbow
Ghostly fogbow pictured on the coast

Fogbow pictured over harbour with ship moored in the background.A fogbow pictured over Stralsund, Germany. - © Klaus Haase

A ghostly looking rainbow, known as a fogbow, was pictured by a user on the coast of northern Germany.

The phenomenon occurs when sunlight interacts with tiny water droplets suspended in the air contained in fog, mist, and low clouds.

In contrast to rainbows, the water droplets that make up these so-called fogbows are much smaller, measuring 0.1 mm across.

Rainbows are formed when sunlight enters raindrops and splits into seven colours as it travels through the water in a process known as refraction.

In a fog bow, the smaller size of the water droplets means that the sunlight is diffracted before reaching our eyes.

Leading to a white “rainbow” drained of colour. If you spot one, send it in via the uploader!

Get involved: Using the uploaderread more
Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Map comparison showing 44 degrees in Indulkana and minus 51 degrees in Olenyok. Coloured temperature ranges show stark global contrasts.
Tuesday, 9 December 2025

Global extremes

Almost 100 degrees difference in temperature
pinecones
Thursday, 11 December 2025

Winter helpers

How pine cones aid the weather forecast
Weather map showing temperatures and a 4,542 mile route arrow over the Atlantic. Symbols indicate sun, clouds and precipitation from North America to Europe.
Wednesday, 17 December 2025

From Europe to America

Weather front over 4,500 miles long
All weather news
This might also interest you
Monday, 25 August 2025

Bank holiday outlook

Warm day turning gusty in places
Weather map of the UK and Ireland showing scattered showers with cloudy patches across much of the region, especially around western and northern areas. Sunshine symbols appear over London, Cardiff, and parts of southern England, while temperatures range from 17°C to 18°C in most places. Areas of heavier rain are visible over the Atlantic to the west.
Friday, 29 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Unsettled conditions into the weekend
Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Frontal system brings heavy rain
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList