Burning gas flares at NOHOCH-A oil platform located in the CANTARELL OIL COMPLEX

Video caption from FLIR STAR SAFIRE II video lights      CAMERA WAS AIMING TOWARD CANTARELL OIL COMPLEX

1 Real non edited picture where the horizon is seen at the same flight level	2 We draw 11 points or lights at the horizon trying to simulate the FLIR recorded image
3 We simulated that there is less day light and the lights are still showing in the horizon with no change in their position but letting the clouds and part of the pilot's note board in the cockpit	4 We added some "infrared filter" (that really should be in gray color and not green). Later we are going to change it to gray trying to get a better match of the pictures
5 We simulated less daylight letting the distant lights in sight as much as posible.	6 We simulated that the daylight is almost gone and let the distant lights still in sight over the horizon
7 We attached the FLIR's screen images to make a comparison of the image's similarity Objects located over the earth's surface at a great distance and closer to the horizon are seen from the cockpit or windows at the same height or altitude in a leveled flight	8 We used contrast and changed the picture to a gray scale color to see the similarity or match. The lights or objects are seen at the same level or altitude from the natural horizon from the airplane's cockpit or windows

FLIR frame from video recorded april 14, 2005

Aerial view recorded with a SONY Handycam

BURNING GAS AT NOHOCH-A OIL PLATFORM LOCATED IN THE CANTARELL OIL COMPLEX

Video caption from FLIR STAR SAFIRE II video lights         CAMERA WAS POINTING TOWARD CANTARELL OIL COMPLEX

The antenna elevation shows 1° above horizon	Antenna elevation shows -3° below the horizon
Antenna elevation shows -4°below the horizon	Antenna elevation shows -6° below the horizon

Great Circle Sailing NOHOCH-A oil platform coordinates A B FLIR coordinates at  17:03:49 Lcl

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE CALCULATOR

---

DISCLAIMER

Dr. Julio Herrera posted on sept 28, 2004.

---

COMPELLING AND VERIFIABLE EVIDENCE ABOUT THE STRANGE SIGHTING OF
THE MEXICAN AIR FORCE FLIR VIDEO TAKEN IN A DRUG SMUGGLING CAMPAIGN
ABOARD A C26A ON MARCH 05, 2004 IN THE STATE OF CAMPECHE, MEXICO.

Click on image to view full size

OFFICIAL DATA GATHERED FROM DIFFERENT U.S. GOVERNMENT SOURCES AND
BY THE HARD WORK RESULTS OF OPEN MINDED INVESTIGATORS WHO KINDLY
SUPPORTED MY THEORY CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THAT THE OIL FLARES FROM
THE CANTARELL OIL WELL FIELD MATCH THE LIGHTS OF THE FLIR VIDEO AND THE
GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES FROM THE THE "SONDA DE CAMPECHE" LOCATED
IN THE GULF OF MEXICO IN FRONT OF CIUDAD DEL CARMEN CITY.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO BELIEVED IN ME AS I BELIEVE THAT IN THE
VAST UNIVERSE INTELLIGENT EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE COULD EXIST

SADLY THERE IS A MAJORITY OF UFO PSEUDO INVESTIGATORS WHO
ARE MAKING BUSINESS AND A CIRCUS WITH NO RESPECT TO HUMANITY

Capt. Alejandro Franz
director@alcione.org

---

Mexican Air Force C-26 Merlin aircraft

FUERZA AÉREA MEXICANA
MEXICAN AIR FORCE


( CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE )
FIRST IMAGE GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY JAMES SMITH ( Tue., 08 Jun 2004)
IMAGE SOURCE: http://home.earthlink.net/%7Ebigvideo1/mexicoufo.jpg

THE PATH IS REPRESENTING A 22 MINUTES INTERVAL
THE IMAGE WAS CREATED FROM DATA AVAILABLE AT:
DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program)

DOWNLOAD SITE: http://dmsp.ngdc.noaa.gov/html/download_world_change_pair.html

Stable lights:
ARCHIVE USED TO EXTRACT DATA OF STABLE LIGHTS
http://dmsp.ngdc.noaa.gov/data/2000_change_pair/2000_stable_lights_version1_TIF.tar

TIFF FORMAT 13 MB COMPRESSED
700 MB UNCOMPRESSED

Stable lights have DN values from 0-63.
These numbers are the average DN values for the year.
Stable lights are the human settlements and gas flares combined.
DN value of 63 = saturated lights
DN value of 0 = no lights.

IMAGE SOURCE: http://www.ufocom.org/pages/v_fr/m_articles/video_mexique/Image24.jpg Chart showing the trajectory followed by Merlin C-26A (black line) since the moment of the first detection of a radar target (16:42:20) and the end of the observations from the FLIR infra-red data (17:28:06). The geographical road (in degrees) and the ground speed average (in knots) are given for the principal segments. The vectors indicate the direction of aiming of infra-red camera FLIR. (given GPS by Bruce Maccabee) Graph of Laurent Léger (sic) -Gildas Bourdais- Source: Une observation remarquable au Mexique Par Gildas Bourdais, 1er juin 2004 http://www.ufocom.org/pages/v_fr/m_articles/video_mexique/Mexique_GB.htm

FREEVIEW 9.0 SCREEN SHOWING CANTARELL LIGHT SIZE
COMPARED TO MERIDA CITY WITH A 4 MILLION POPULATION

This graphic shows the Mexican Air Force C26A trajectory from 16:42:20 to 17:28:06 LOCAL TIME
The composite image was created by myself over imposing three images to make this overlay and it shows:

a.-) Primarily (background) the image provided by James Smith.
b.-) The image from Laurent Léger (red vectors) and
c.-) Two of the FLIR's video images vectors that match almost exactly pointing
        to Cantarell Oil Field flares and Campeche City.

NOTE:  COORDINATES SHOWN BELLOW ARE FROM NDB'S (NAVAIDS) LOCATED AT MOST OF THE OIL
             WELLS WHICH ARE INSTALLED TO GUIDE HELICOPTERS AND ANY SHIP WHEN APPROACHING
            ANY PARTICULAR OIL RIG.

COORDINATES FROM (NDB 'Navaids') LOCATED AT  EACH OIL WELL:

SOURCE: http://www.wapf.com/world/n.PO1.html ( LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE)

OIL WELL NAMES	LATITUDE	LONGITUDE
AKAL J  (PA2)	19 deg 25min 41 sec N	92 deg 04 min 31 sec W
NEPTUNO  (PO1)	19 deg 26min 00 sec N	92 deg 02 min 00 sec W
AKAL C  (PA1)	19 deg 23min 57 sec N	92 deg 02 min 20 sec W
NOHOCH-A  (PN1)	19 deg 22min 06 sec N	92 deg 00 min 14 sec W

NDB:

( CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE )
Image provided by JAMES SMITH
LANDSAT-7 PHOTO OF THE OIL WELLS AT CANTARELL
AKAL-J, AKAL-C AND NOHOCH-A OIL WELLS IMAGE SHOWING NDB'S (NAVAIDS) COORDINATES

SATELLITE IMAGE OF CANTARELL OIL COMPLEX IN THE GULF OF MEXICO
Image from Google Earth captured in 2006 ( now in 2007 is not available anymore)

DISTANCE BETWEEN MAIN GAS BURNERS IN NOHOCH-A COMPLEX
IMAGE GATHERED FROM GOOGLE EARTH IN 2006 ( NOW IN 2007 IS NOT AVAILABLE)

GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES FROM AKAL-C AND NOHOCH-A GAS BURNERS OF
CANTARELL OIL COMPLEX IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. IMAGE WAS GATHERED FROM
GOOGLE EARTH IN 2006 ( NOW IN 2007 IS NOT AVAILABLE ANYMORE)
 

NDB'S (NON DIRECTIONAL BEACONS) AT CANTARELL OIL FIELD
IMAGE FROM 1998 NAVIGATION CHART
ONC J-25 SCALE 1:1,000,000

           CHART ONC J-25 SCALE  1:1,000,000 DATED 1998


NDB'S AT CANTARELL OIL FIELD CHART FROM 1997 ONC J-25 SCALE 1:1,000,000

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You could find this link useful.

http://mirage-mex.acd.ucar.edu/Literature/2003Villasenor.pdf

Page 4 has a nice diagram of all the platforms in the area.
I guess they did a lot of work gathering location data for all
platforms and flare types.

Diagram
 

Page 6 has the following:

"The three types of offshore flaring operations used either elevated,boom or ground level flares.
Each of the seven major oil and gas producing platform complexes mentioned above may have
one or more elevated flares.

Some vertically pointing flares operate at either high flow (4.2x10^6 m^3/day) or low flow
(9.1 to 24x10^5 m^3/ day).

Several platforms have "boom" flares rated at 2.3x10^5 m^3/day. The designed flows to boom
flaring are generally much higher than the average flows (0.85 to 25x10^5 m^3/day)."
 
 

OIL WELL AKAL-C FLARES AT CANTARELL, CAMPECHE.

IMAGE SHOWING THE LIGHT  (HEAT) INTENSITY OF CANTARELL OIL FIELD AREA

 

CALCULATION CHART INPUT data in the following chart: in the "Height of the light above Sea Level"  WINDOW INPUT 200 ft (average elevation of oil rigs booms) in the "Height above the eye of the observer above sea level" WINDOW INPUT 11500 ft  ( C26A Merlin altitude) RESULT = 141.89344043992807 NM Nautical Miles (1nm = 1.852km) Given the Height of the Light Above Sea Level(200) and the Height of the Eye of the Observer (11500)above Sea Level, Compute the Geographic Range http://pollux.nss.nima.mil/calc/range.html Height of the Light above Sea Level (specify units):    feet meters Height of the eye of the Observer above Sea Level (specify units):    feet meters Geographic Range: (Nautical Miles)

IMAGE PROPERTY OF:
UNAM - INSTITUTO DE CIENCIAS DEL MAR Y LIMNOLOGÍA
http://biblioweb.dgsca.unam.mx/cienciasdelmar/instituto/1983-1/articulo156.html

IMAGE COMPOSITE BY L.D.G KURT FRANZ RUÍZ

PICTURE SHOWING THE FLIR DIRECTION VECTORS THAT MATCH EXACTLY TO THE CANTARELL OIL FIELD
(CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE )

(CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE )

(CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE )
 

MAGE PROPERTY OF:
UNAM - INSTITUTO DE CIENCIAS DEL MAR Y LIMNOLOGÍA
http://biblioweb.dgsca.unam.mx/cienciasdelmar/instituto/1983-1/articulo156.html

Infrared Imagery in Flight

With the aid of advanced imaging sensors, pilots of both rotor craft and fixed wing aircraft
can now conduct missions that were not possible just a few years ago. In general, these
sensors can be viewed as extensions to a pilot's own visual system. They allow the pilot
to safely fly and complete missions at times when environmental conditions (e.g., darkness,
dust, smoke) would preclude flight or mission completion with unaided vision. One class of
imaging sensors that has been used extensively by pilots for targeting, navigation, and flight
control purposes are thermal imaging (infrared imagery) systems. In general, thermal imaging
sensors are sensitive to thermal radiation in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum
(3-5 microns or 8-14 microns). (Visible light, to which the human eye is sensitive, is in the
range of 0.4 to 0.7 microns.)
 

A thermal sensor creates a visual scene on a cathode-ray tube (CRT) that can be mounted either
on the cockpit panel or the pilot's helmet. The visual scene provided by the sensor is monochrome
and appears to be similar to black and white television (TV) or reversed-video (i.e., phase inverted)
black and white TV. However, despite the overall appearance of similarity to TV images, there are
important differences. An important qualitative difference between thermal imagery (TI) and TV or
unaided vision occurs as a direct result of the image's source: The distribution of gray shades in
TI represents relative temperature differences, rather than brightness and reflectance differences.

Compared to TV images or directly-viewed visual scenes,
TI has the following properties:

(1) Heat-emitting objects  generally have higher contrast with the background;
(2) Shadowing/shading information may be absent;
(3) Sensor polarity settings (i.e., the assignment of white or black to hot) may
      lead to perceptual errors;  and
(4) A given object may appear quite different when viewed under different
     environmental  conditions (e.g., time of day, yearly season, humidity, ambient
     temperature).

 These characteristics of thermal imagery directly impact flight
 control and navigation, particularly at very low altitudes:

(1) Pilot workload is generally higher (Hart & Brickner, 1989);
(2) Object distances may be inaccurately estimated (Hart & Brickner, 1989),
      (Hale & Piccione, 1989);
(3) The horizon line may be indistinct (Bohm, 1985); and
(4) Specific objects in the environment may change luminance levels
     drastically as a function of time of day (Berry, Dyer, Park, Sellers & Telton, 1984).

Infrared Imagery in Flight
Dr. David C. Foyle
MS 262-3
Aerospace Human Factors Research Division
NASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
http://human-factors.arc.nasa.gov/ihi/papers/publications/foyle/visualissues91/visualissues91.html

A thermal image is black and white. On a relative scale, it shows hot items as white and
cold items as black. Temperatures between the two extremes are shown as gradients of gray.
Some thermal imagers have color images. The color is artificially generated by the camera’s
video enhancement electronics, based upon the thermal attributes seen by the camera.

What is a pixel?

A pixel is the smallest single individual image element of detection on the thermal imaging sensor.

What is a focal plane array (FPA)?

A focal plane array is a group of pixels organized into a rectangular grid. The size of the array is
measured by multiplying the horizontal number of pixels by the vertical number of pixels. Most fire
service thermal imaging cameras on the market today contain 160 x 120 or 320 x 240 FPAs.

What frequency range does the thermal imaging sensor detect?

Thermal imaging sensors are designed to detect long-wave infrared radiation between 8 to 14 microns.
This energy, unlike visible light, can pass through smoke and is undetected by the naked eye.

What is a BST detector?

BST stands for "barium strontium titanate," and this type of detector was developed
by Raytheon Corporation.

Ceramic-like thermal-energy-sensing material is used to make BST focal plane arrays,
which measure heat by storing it as a fixed value (similar to a capacitor) at each pixel.
When the grid of pixels, or focal plane array, is monitored simultaneously, a thermal
image is generated.

Because of their fixed-image properties, BST pixels must be refreshed regularly in order
to maintain the perception of real-time imaging.

The device used to refresh the image is called a "chopper." The "blade" of the chopper
wheel passes in front of the detector to effectively change the scene temperatures "sensed"
with each pass. The speed of the chopper determines the "refresh rate" (see definition)
and is typically 30 Hz.

What is a microbolometer?

A microbolometer is the latest type of thermal imaging FPA, which consists of materials that measure
heat by changing resistance at each pixel. The most common microbolometer material is vanadium oxide
(VOx). Amorphous silicon is another relatively new microbolometer material.

Although microbolometers do not require a chopper to refresh the image, they must occasionally be
recalibrated for the pixels to provide a consistent output and to avoid oversaturation. The device that
occasionally (every 30 seconds to 5 minutes) and automatically recalibrates the FPA is called a
"shutter" (see definition).

What does ferroelectric mean?

A TIC’s detectors that are ferroelectric in nature detect heat by storing it as a value on each individual
pixel. BST and pyroelectric vidicon tubes are examples of ferroelectric detectors.

What does thermoelectric mean?

TIC’s detectors that are thermoelectric in nature detect heat by changing each pixel’s resistance.
Microbolometers are examples of thermoelectric detectors.

What is MRTD?

MRTD stands for Minimum Resolvable Termal Difference. This is a relatively inaccurate
measurement of the smallest temperature difference that a thermal imaging camera can detect.

What is NETD?

NETD stands for Noise-Equivalent Temperature Difference. This is a measurement of the smallest
temperature difference that a thermal imaging camera can detect in the presence of electronic
circuit noise for a particular lens f-number.

What is dynamic range?

Dynamic range is the range of temperature variance that a TIC can see without saturating.
A microbolometer has a much larger dynamic range (e.g., 360º F or 200º C) when compared to a
BST which has a much smaller dynamic range (e.g., 45º F or 25º C). This allows the microbolometer
to demonstrate gradients of gray in environments (generally at higher temperatures) where BST
sensors become saturated and appear as a black and white image.

To further enhance the image, the Evolution 4000 microbolometer automatically extends the dynamic
range even farther to 1080º F (600º C) in high temperatures (indicated by the ‘EI' indicator on display).

What is meant by field of view (FOV)?

The field of view describes the area visible by the thermal imaging camera. FOV is measured in
degrees and can be specified in horizontal, vertical, or diagonal measurement. The lens and its
position generally determine the camera’s FOV.

What is standby mode?

The standby mode turns all major components in a TIC off except for the sensor core. This feature
allows the camera to be in ready mode so that the camera can power up without the standard
15 - to 30-second sensor core warm-up time.

What is the purpose of an iris?

Generally used on ferroelectric (pyroelectric vidicon tubes and BST) sensors, the iris is a mechanical
aperture that operates much like the iris of the human eye. It opens and closes to control the amount
of infrared energy that enters the camera and strikes the sensor.

The iris also manages the "dynamic range" (see definition) of ferroelectric sensors. The iris can be
either manual or automatic and may also be called a "throttle" or "gain adjust." All MSA TICs have
an automatic iris so that operation is completely seamless to the user and requires no manual
intervention.

What thermal imaging cameras currently available on the market are rated as intrinsically safe?

To date, no TICs available on the market have an intrinsic safety rating. Products that are rated as
intrinsically safe do not generate enough heat or spark which could serve as the ignition source for
an explosion.

TICs require too much power and produce too much energy to qualify as intrinsically safe products.
Technology is rapidly evolving to provide lower power components for TICs, so an intrinsically safe
camera is not far away.

What is a shutter?

A shutter is a mechanical device, generally shaped like a flag, which closes in front of the detector
to activate the calibration for a uniform temperature (or black body).

This automatic, periodic calibration is necessary because pixels in microbolometers drift and
cause image degradation.

What is "refresh rate"?

Refresh rate (or frame update rate) is the number of times per second that a new image is "created"
by the sensor. The refresh rate is determined by mechanical attributes (e.g., chopper wheel),
where applicable, and the speed of the electronics.

What is white-out or oversaturation?

White-out or oversaturation occurs when a thermal imaging detector is subjected to too much
thermal energy, and the image, which appears as a white cloud, no longer identifies fine details
in the scene.

Most thermal imaging cameras have an automatic iris or appropriate software to adjust system
controls to avoid white-out immediately after intense thermal energy hits the detector.
Pointing the TIC directly at superheated sources, such as the sun, is not recommended
and may damage the detector.

What makes a quality high-resolution thermal imaging picture?

    Thermal imaging picture quality is determined by a number of factors:

1. The quality of the lens that focuses the thermal image onto the FPA. One measurement of
    lens speed is the f-number. The smaller the f-number, the wider the lens, and the better the
    image quality. Generally, the main constraints to lens quality include weight and size
    (the better the lens, the bigger and heavier it will be).

2. The number of pixels on the FPA. With all other thermal system components being equal,
    the more pixels on the FPA, the finer the image details that can be resolved.

3. Whether it’s microbolometer or BST. BST pixels are mechanically interconnected, whereas
    microbolometer pixels are mechanically isolated. The thermal energy seen by an individual
    BST pixel can therefore "bleed" onto nearby pixels, but isolated microbolometer pixels sense
    independently and provide clearer, crisper image lines.

4. The electronic signal processing (video enhancement electronics). Most fire service thermal
    imaging cameras are controlled by microprocessors, which not only monitor the system but
    also "enhance" the thermal image. For example, some cameras are able to generate near
    320 x 240 FPA performance by using a 160 x 120 array and "averaging" to generate the
    remaining image points. Others are able to determine if a pixel is not functioning properly
    and approximate its correct output using surrounding pixels to generate a smoothed image.

5. The MRTD. ( Minimum Resolvable Termal Difference )

6. The NETD. ( Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference )

7. The Dynamic Range.  In a transmission system, the ratio of the overload level
    ( the maximum signal power that the system can tolerate without distortion of the signal )

8. The amount of system signal noise. Signal processing and components may add noise
    (or "snow") to the image. The cleaner the system, the better the image (difficult to measure
     but easy to see).

9. The display used to interface with the user. The better quality display provides a better image.

Source: http://www.msanet.com/MSANorthAmerica/MSAUnitedStates/frequentlyaskedquestions/EvolutionFAQ.html

A second effect, called refraction, also affects the path the electromagnetic energy will take
as it propagates through the atmosphere. Normally, because the atmosphere's density
decreases rapidly with height, the radar beam will be deflected downward, much like light
passing through a glass prism. In extreme cases, where temperature increases with height
and dry air overlays warm air, (a condition often found along coastlines), the beam can bend
down dramatically and even strike the ground. Meteorologists call this effect "anomalous
propagation". Both the curvature of the earth and normal atmospheric refraction must be
accounted for when determining the position of a target.

Refraction : The bending of light

The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another is called refraction.

The angle and wavelength at which the light enters a substance and the density of that
substance determine how much the light is refracted. The refraction of light by atmospheric
particles can result in a number of beautiful optical effects like halos, which are produced
when sunlight (or moonlight) is refracted by the pencil shaped ice crystals of cirrostratus clouds.

A mirage is an optical phenomenon which often occurs naturally. The kind most commonly
seen is produced by the refraction of light when it passes into a layer of warm air lying close
to a heated ground surface.  ( Like the sea waters in the Gulf of Mexico before down )

A mirage effect produced by greater-than-normal refraction in the lower atmosphere,
thus permitting objects to be seen that are usually below the horizon. This occurs when
the air density decreases more rapidly with height than in the normal atmosphere.
If the rate of decrease of density with height is greater in the region followed by the ray
from the top of the object than for the ray from the bottom of the object, the image will
be stretched vertically. This stretching is often called looming but is more properly
termed towering. The antonym of looming is sinking and that of towering is stooping.

Some mirages have specific names:

1. Looming - appearance of objects usually hidden below the horizon. Normally occur over
    water surfaces when normal rate of air thickness decreases and altitude is heightened.

2. Sinking - reverse effect of the above phenomenon. Occurs when the opposite conditions
    at sea take place. In sinking, the vessels, boats and shorelines which are seen on the
    horizon, seem to sink below and become invisible.

3. Towering - occurs due to irregular refraction. Light rays curve downward, with the top
     of the object curving more than the lower ones. The observer will see objects which seem
     to be lifted up more then they need to be and will be enlarged in the vertical direction.

4. Stooping - when the light rays of the distant object curve downward less than the rays at
    the bottom. This vertical contraction gives it this name. It results in objects on the horizon
    being observed with the rising or setting of the sun and the moon. One may often see a
    distortion caused by irregular layer effects of the lower atmosphere strata. One of the most
    famous of these occurs between Calabria and Sicily and is known as Fata Morgana.

Normal atmospheric conditions

Usually, within the lower atmosphere (the troposphere) the air near the surface of the Earth
is warmer than the air above it, largely because the atmosphere is heated from below by
solar radiation absorbed at the surface.

Hot air, however, rises. This is convection in which the warmer air rises up, to be replaced
with cooler air which is then heated. It is this process that leads to cloud building, thermals,
and other convection related atmospheric behavior.

Inversion layer

How inversions occur

Sometimes the gradient is inverted, so that the air gets colder nearer the surface of the Earth:
this is a temperature inversion.

It can be created by the movement of air masses of different temperature moving over each
other. A warm air mass moving over a colder one can "shut off" the convection effects,
keeping the cooler air mass trapped below.

It commonly occurs at night: when solar heating ceases, the surface cools by radiation,
and cools the immediately overlying atmosphere. Over most of Antarctica there is a near
permanent inversion.

Consequences of an Inversion

With the disruption of normal convection, a number of phenomena are associated
with a temperature inversion. One common effect is the general "stillness" of the air,
as is dirty or foggy air which can no longer be pulled away from the surface.

The Index Refraction of air decreases as the air temperature increases, a side effect
of hotter air being less dense. Normally this results in distant objects being shortened
vertically, an effect that is easy to see at sunset (where the sun is "squished" into an orb).
In an inversion the normal pattern is reversed, and distant objects are instead stretched
out or appear to be above the horizon. This leads to the interesting optical effects of
Fata Morgana or mirage.

Inferior mirage

What is a mirage? A mirage is a misleading appearance. Most mirages occur on
the seas or in the deserts. What will cause a mirage? A reflection. What causes
reflection? Light. We seldom consider light as anything magical or wonderful,
but light allows us the ability to see many good things and, often, many bad things.

Mirages, also called illusions, are caused by a reflection of some distance object
which allows you to think that it is close by. In physics, it is known as an optical
illusion. The more common type of mirage is called inferior mirage. It happens
when a refraction of light passes through the atmosphere layers with varying
qualities. Distance objects may seem to be raised above or below their normal
locality. These objects may be seen as irregular and fantastic shapes.

In warmer climates, such as deserts and sandy plains, mirages frequently occur.
It normally comes in the appearance of the desert resembling a sheet of water,
especially if you are somewhat higher than the mirage you experience. If you've
been driving down the interstate in the heat of summer, you probably have
noticed this same effect. With this case, the image is really of the sky.
How does it occur? If you are below eye level of this surface, all objects will
appear inverted, or upside-down. Over a hot surface, air will stand in layers
that are of a different element or part. The layers below or near the ground
are the hottest. These air layers cause a distortion of wave fronts, due to the
speed of light varying as the element or parts change.

Superior mirages are spectacular events, but much less common than the
inferior mirage. These occur mainly over the horizon of the sea when distant
objects are sketched, or drawn, upside down in the sky. Sometimes there is
an erect image of the same object which will be above the upside-down image.
This is characteristic of cold areas and conditions with a strong change of