十万个为什么·科学启蒙30篇（2）
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Why Do We See Mirages on Hot Roads?
为什么我们在炎热的路面上看到海市蜃楼？
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On hot days, air just above the road becomes much warmer and less dense than cooler air above.
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Light travels faster in warm, thin air, causing it to bend upward slightly near the ground.
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Your eyes and brain assume light moves in straight lines, so they misread the bent path.
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This tricks you into seeing what looks like shimmering water or a mirrored sky.
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The effect is strongest when there’s a big temperature difference between surface and air.
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Mirages can also appear in deserts or over cold ocean surfaces, but with opposite bending.
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Unlike reflections in mirrors, mirages form entirely from light refraction in layered air.
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Cameras capture mirages the same way human eyes do—no special equipment needed.
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Pilots sometimes see false horizons during landing due to similar atmospheric bending.
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Understanding mirages helps meteorologists improve weather prediction models for heatwaves.