According to the National Geographic Society, a rainbow is a multi-coloured arc made by light striking water droplets. The phenomenon’s origins are much more scientific and represented by three words: reflection, refraction, and dispersion.
The pure white light emanating from the sun shines through the water droplets that hang in the air, which reflect and disperse it like countless prisms. When sunlight hits the raindrop’s surface at just the right angle, the beam refracts or “bends,” since the water is denser than the surrounding air. As the light leaves the droplet, it splits into various wavelengths along the spectrum visible to humans, from red (the longest) to violet (the shortest)—with the whole rainbow in between.
Rainbows are actually full circles. Viewers in an aircraft can sometimes see these circular rainbows, however, viewers on the ground can only see the light reflected by raindrops above the horizon.
Apparently, there are different variations of rainbows. These include Glow, Double Rainbow, Higher-Order Rainbows, Twinned Rainbow, Supernumerary Rainbow, Reflection Rainbow, Reflected Rainbow, Red Rainbow etc. (Detailed information can be found on the National Geographic Society website).
Rainbows are steeped in mythology. They are often part of the myths of many cultures around the world. They are often portrayed as bridges between people and supernatural beings. For example, in the ancient beliefs of Japan and Gabon, rainbows were the bridges that human ancestors took to descend to the planet.
Rainbows are sometimes portrayed as negative symbols in some cultures. In parts of Burma, for instance, rainbows are considered demons that threaten children. Tribes throughout the Amazon basin associate rainbows with diseases.
In the west, the most famous piece of mythology surrounding rainbows is the Irish legend of the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Because no one sees the same rainbow and rainbows don’t “end” (they’re circles)—no one ever finds the gold or the magical creature.
When you see a rainbow in the sky on a cloudy raining day, what comes to your mind? What does it represent to you? Is it its scientific composition? Is it the “Pride Flag”, the symbol of the LGBTQ+ social movement? Is it its beautiful colours or the myth of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?
In the next blog, we’ll consider the Bible’s view on the origin, reason, and purpose of the rainbow in the clouds.
Stay tuned,
LaraLex
Hills and Valleys 