f class at 600 yards and can’t see the target just a blob

[PracticalTactical]

While I am no expert, I have been in the Mojave desert and seen mirage. So your statement that heat alone is not a cause of mirage does not seem to stand up. Although any moisture may had to this, from my observation it is not required, at least in any abundance.

So, what was the humidity level in the air in the dessert?

While it seems dry, I can reasonably assume there was still moisture in the air.

The hotter the air, the more water vapor it can hold, so I don't really see your point as counter to mine.

Big difference between the Mojave desert and Mars, just guessing... I have no idea how much water is in the air on Mars. I just don't recall ever seeing a photo with Mirage from Mars.

I did look around a bit on the internet and the descriptions I found of mirage only mentioned temperature as a factor, but I assume they simply ignored the presence of water in the air within the context of the statement.

I have a good friend who is a meteorologist. I'll try and catch up with him and ask his opinion.

What Is The Humidity Of The Mojave Desert? - Sciencing

The humidity of the Mojave Desert changes throughout the day and night and from season to season. Average daytime relative humidity ranges from 10 percent to 30 percent. Nighttime humidity can be as high as 50 percent. Humidity is higher before and after the Mojave's infrequent rainfalls; it...

sciencing.com

The humidity of the Mojave Desert changes throughout the day and night and from season to season. Average daytime relative humidity ranges from 10 percent to 30 percent. Nighttime humidity can be as high as 50 percent. Humidity is higher before and after the Mojave's infrequent rainfalls; it tends to rise at night and during cold weather and to drop during the day and in hot weather. These temperature-associated fluctuations are largely a function of how humidity is measured.

 

[rardoin]

Mirage is all about the refraction of light passing through different density air masses. The photons get ‘bent’ as they pass through the interface between the layers. The overwhelming variable in air density is temperature when pertaining to mirage. Humidity will play a minor role. Theoretically zero humidity air will exhibit mirage if differentially heated.

 

[PracticalTactical]

I spoke with my friend the meteorologist and this is what he said... keep in mind that I'm paraphrasing...

Hot air is less dense than cold air

Humid air is less dense than dry air

Molecular weight of water is 18

Molecular weight of Oxygen is 32

Molecular weight of Nitrogen 28

Dry air is roughly 30 percent nitrogen and 70 percent oxygen, so the average molecular weight of dry air is about the average of 32+32+28 = 30.6 (roughly)

The more water in the air the lower the molecular weight of moist air. He didn't say how to calculate the molecular weight of moist air, and I didn't ask.

Cool dry air mixing with hot humid air creates the maximum density deferential and therefore the maximum mirage.

Therefore absolutely moisture is a significant factor in mirage.

He did say that even in zero humidity there could be mirage if cold air mixes with warm air.

 

[kzin]

I spoke with my friend the meteorologist and this is what he said... keep in mind that I'm paraphrasing...

Hot air is less dense than cold air

Humid air is less dense than dry air

Molecular weight of water is 18

Molecular weight of Oxygen is 32

Molecular weight of Nitrogen 28

Dry air is roughly 30 percent nitrogen and 70 percent oxygen, so the average molecular weight of dry air is about the average of 32+32+28 = 30.6 (roughly)

The more water in the air the lower the molecular weight of moist air. He didn't say how to calculate the molecular weight of moist air, and I didn't ask.

Cool dry air mixing with hot humid air creates the maximum density deferential and therefore the maximum mirage.

Therefore absolutely moisture is a significant factor in mirage.

He did say that even in zero humidity there could be mirage if cold air mixes with warm air.

Other way around and 30 still sounds high.

 

[Warren Dean]

Dry air is roughly 30 percent nitrogen and 70 percent oxygen,

The air we breathe is 20.9 % oxygen and nitrogen is the remainder with very, very small amounts of miscellaneous other gases thrown in.

 

[PracticalTactical]

Whatever... semantics aside... the point is that the molecular weight of water is almost half the molecular weight of air.

Therefore humid air is thinner than dry air and causes heavier mirage.

 

[rardoin]

Whatever... semantics aside... the point is that the molecular weight of water is almost half the molecular weight of air.

Therefore humid air is thinner than dry air and causes heavier mirage.

Yes, the mirage I see in high humidity conditions is ’coarser’ and gets more intense at lower temperatures. However, your point that humidity is a major driver of mirage is based on false assumptions (that perfectly dry air cannot cause mirage….it definitely can). Again, light will alter it’s path as it passes through different density air layers and temperature, not humidity, has much greater influence in regards to the effects we are concerned with. The temperature gradient from the range floor to the target altitude will have MUCH greater variation than the humidity gradient in the same air that the light is passing through from the target to our eyes.

 

[Warren Dean]

Whatever... semantics aside... the point is that the molecular weight of water is almost half the molecular weight of air.

Therefore humid air is thinner than dry air and causes heavier mirage

Whatever.

 

[JMayo]

Y'all got away too much "learning" going on in your brain ....

Id rather live in the bliss of ignorance !
Lmbo !

 

[Warren Dean]

Y'all got away too much "learning" going on in your brain ....

Id rather live in the bliss of ignorance !
Lmbo !

More like "If you can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with BS"