Home / Editor's Pick /

White rainbow: Ghostly fogbow pictured on the coast

02:00 PM
February 23, 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 colors 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 color. If you spot one, send it in via the uploader!

Weather & Radar USA editorial team
More on the topic
Saturday, November 22, 2025

Find the lotion!

Dry skin season is back
rjukan-mirrors
Sunday, December 7, 2025

In the base of a valley

A town that uses mirrors for sunlight
Fog impacting the Appalachian Mountains.
Sunday, November 23, 2025

Low clouds

10 facts about fog
All weather news
This might also interest you
Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Daily briefing

Staying busy across northern tier
Wintry weather impacts D.C. on the WeatherRadar.
Sunday, December 7, 2025

Snow, sleet or ice

How atmospheric temps shape winter precipitation
Daily briefing for December 12
Friday, December 12, 2025

Daily briefing

Winter locked into northern tier
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

instagramfacebookthreadslinkList