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
Satellite map shows cyclone off the north coast of Australia with wind fields around the eye.
Thursday 20 November 2025

Gusts exceeding 90 mph

Tropical storm heads for Australia
Weather map showing a thunderstorm cell and lightning over the east coast of Queensland.
Tuesday 25 November 2025

Severe thunderstorms

Huge hailstorm hits eastern Australia
Temperature map of Europe showing wintry conditions in the north-east, and summer warmth in the south-east.
Friday 21 November 2025

Winter meets summer

Large temperature contrasts in Europe
All weather news
This might also interest you
Wednesday 27 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Frontal system brings heavy rain
Split weather map showing the UK and Ireland. The left side illustrates strong winds circulating around a low-pressure system, with gusts of 20–30 mph highlighted in orange and yellow. The right side shows radar imagery with widespread blue rain bands and patches of thunderstorms, especially over northern England and Scotland.
Thursday 28 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Remaining widely unsettled
Mammatus clouds
Thursday 21 August 2025

Unusual view

Mammatus clouds over Ireland
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList