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California Coast – Ships that appear to float or hover above the Pacific Ocean horizon during spring and summer are a recurring sight along California’s coastline, and scientists say the dramatic visuals are the result of a natural optical illusion.
The phenomenon, known as a superior mirage, occurs when a layer of cool air near the ocean’s surface is trapped beneath warmer air above it. This temperature inversion bends light downward toward the viewer, causing distant objects — including cargo ships, tankers, and offshore vessels — to appear elevated above their true position at sea…