A beautiful summary of knowledge, experience, and humanity

Rainbow Sands at Scarborough State Beach

Rainbow Sands at Scarborough State Beach 01The wind (enhanced by Hurricane Lee offshore) has pushed the tide out and the waves spread across the saturated, rarely exposed, sand creating a mirror-like skim of water. As the angle of incidence from the sun matches the angle of reflection, there is enough depth to the watery skim to act as a prism and give a rainbow view on the sand.

This is an exciting moment for me because it is a rare occurrence. The right circumstances had to come together in one moment for this phenomenon to happen.

Hurricane Lee is offshore, creating wind and surf. The wind has pushed the water even further than it would in normal low tide circumstances. We are able to walk on sand that is completely saturated with water. The surf extends on to this saturated sand as it rolls in.

Because the sand is waterlogged, there is a skim of water left on the sand as the surf recedes. This creates a mirror effect as the sun filters through the windblown smear of clouds above. The exact angle of incidence gives the exact angle of reflection to take advantage of the fortuitous prism in the skim of water. And there we have faint rainbows in the sand.

Having been on the water throughout my life, I have studied the winds, the waves, the tides. I check the weather and tide every day as a mariner. Possessing a degree in Physics, I am always curious of phenomena and have a desire to understand them. As a photographer, I am always seeking interesting visual happenings. And as a human and poet, I stand amazed at something that I was waiting for all of my life and didn't know it. But this is a beautiful summary of knowledge, experience, and humanity. Being from the Ocean State, there is Hope in the rainbow as well. 

Rainbow Sands at Scarborough State Beach 01The wind (enhanced by Hurricane Lee offshore) has pushed the tide out and the waves spread across the saturated, rarely exposed, sand creating a mirror-like skim of water. As the angle of incidence from the sun matches the angle of reflection, there is enough depth to the watery skim to act as a prism and give a rainbow view on the sand. Rainbow Sands at Scarborough State Beach 02The wind (enhanced by Hurricane Lee offshore) has pushed the tide out and the waves spread across the saturated, rarely exposed, sand creating a mirror-like skim of water. As the angle of incidence from the sun matches the angle of reflection, there is enough depth to the watery skim to act as a prism and give a rainbow view on the sand. Rainbow Sands at Scarborough State Beach 03The wind (enhanced by Hurricane Lee offshore) has pushed the tide out and the waves spread across the saturated, rarely exposed, sand creating a mirror-like skim of water. As the angle of incidence from the sun matches the angle of reflection, there is enough depth to the watery skim to act as a prism and give a rainbow view on the sand. Rainbow Sands at Scarborough State Beach 04The wind (enhanced by Hurricane Lee offshore) has pushed the tide out and the waves spread across the saturated, rarely exposed, sand creating a mirror-like skim of water. As the angle of incidence from the sun matches the angle of reflection, there is enough depth to the watery skim to act as a prism and give a rainbow view on the sand. Rainbow Sands at Scarborough State Beach 05The wind (enhanced by Hurricane Lee offshore) has pushed the tide out and the waves spread across the saturated, rarely exposed, sand creating a mirror-like skim of water. As the angle of incidence from the sun matches the angle of reflection, there is enough depth to the watery skim to act as a prism and give a rainbow view on the sand. Rainbow Sands at Scarborough State Beach 06The wind (enhanced by Hurricane Lee offshore) has pushed the tide out and the waves spread across the saturated, rarely exposed, sand creating a mirror-like skim of water. As the angle of incidence from the sun matches the angle of reflection, there is enough depth to the watery skim to act as a prism and give a rainbow view on the sand.

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