Chapter 35, Problem 35.12CQ

(a) Under what conditions is a mirage formed? While driving on a hot day, sometimes you see what appears to be water on the road far ahead. When you arrive at the location of the water, however, the road is perfectly dry. Explain this phenomenon, (b) The mirage called fata morgana often occurs over water or in cold regions covered with snow or ice. It can cause islands to sometimes become visible, even though they are not normally visible because they are below the horizon due to the curvature of the Earth. Explain this phenomenon.