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

[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"