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Science 13 July 1979:
Vol. 205. no. 4402, pp. 183 - 185
DOI: 10.1126/science.205.4402.183
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Articles

Atmospheric Refraction and Lake Monsters

W. H. LEHN 1

1 Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada R3T 2N2

A survey of reported sightings of lake monster phenomena suggests that many of them may be attributable to atmospheric image distortion. The existence of the necessary conditions (surface temperature inversion and hence strong atmospheric refraction) can be inferred from most of the reports. Under such conditions familiar objects can easily take on unrecognizable form. Two photographs demonstrate the extent of the distortion that can occur.

Submitted on January 19, 1979
Revised on March 27, 1979

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)