Rainbow shower refers to a natural meteorological phenomenon that occurs when diffuse sunlight is reflected, refracted, and dispersed by water droplets suspended in the air, creating a circular arc of colors in the sky. The term "rainbow" is derived from the Latin words "arcus pluvius," meaning "rainy arch." It is often seen as a semicircular arc, with its center opposite to the sun and forming a halo-like shape. A rainbow shower commonly appears during or immediately after rainfall, when the sun is low in the sky and its rays encounter and interact with rain droplets.
The colors of a rainbow shower, from the innermost to the outermost, are typically red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. This arrangement follows the sequence of colors in the spectrum, known as ROYGBIV. Each color results from a different wavelength of light being refracted through the water droplets and is visible due to the dispersion of white sunlight.
Rainbow showers have long fascinated and captivated human beings, symbolizing hope, beauty, and a connection with nature. They are transient and may only last for a short period, often vanishing as quickly as they appear. To witness a rainbow shower, one needs to stand with the sun behind them and look toward the rain shower or moisture-laden atmosphere. Additionally, rainbows can sometimes be seen in ocean spray, nearby waterfalls, or even in the fine mist created by garden hoses or lawn sprinklers.
