Fog Bows

A fog bow is like a rainbow made of fog. It looks like a pale, white arch in the mist. Fog bows can be seen when the sun shines through foggy air. They are not as colorful as rainbows, but they are just as amazing to see.

How Fog Bows Form

Fog bows form the same way rainbows do. Sunlight shines into tiny water drops in the air and bends. In fog, the water drops are much smaller than raindrops. This makes the colors blend together and look white. A fog bow appears on the opposite side of the sky from the sun.

Where to See Fog Bows

Fog bows can be seen in many foggy places. They are common in mountains and near the ocean. Pilots sometimes see fog bows from their planes. Hikers walking above the clouds may also spot them. To see a fog bow, stand with the sun behind you and look into the fog.

Fun Facts

• Fog bows are sometimes called white rainbows or cloud bows.
• A fog bow seen from an airplane can look like a complete circle.
• The edges of a fog bow may show faint colors like red and blue.

Did You Know?

Sailors in the Arctic have seen fog bows for hundreds of years. They sometimes called them sea dogs because they could mean bad weather was coming.