A PIECE OF TRIVIA FOR YOU SEASONED FOLKS

[RANGER]

WHEN YOU ARE ON "BIG WATER", LIKE THE GREAT LAKES OR THE OCEAN -- HOW FAR DO YOU THINK YOU CAN SEE OUT TO THE HOIZON OF THE WATER, STANDING ON SHORE AT THE EDGE OF THE WATER OR STANDING UP IN YOUR BOAT??? (i.e. EYE LEVEL 6' TO 8' ABOVE THE WATER)

2 MILES

5 MILES

7 MILES

10, 15, 20????

YOU'LL BE SURPRISED!!!!!! I WAS!!

I'LL POST TOMORROW MORNING.

RANGER

[Eyemadman]

40 miles

[Time to Move]

I can see for miles and miles . . .

3.5 to 4 miles

1.42 * sq root of 6 (or 8)

[Eyez (SD)]

12 miles

[TBO/MN]

The formula for calculating horizon distance is:
The distance to the horizon (in miles) is 1.23 times the square root of the height of
your eye from the ground (in feet).
If you calculate your height at 8 ft. in the boat, then the calculation would be 1.23 X 2.83(square root of 8)=3.4809 miles.

TBO/MN

[Nofish]

Hey Gang,

I too thought that in a boat it is a little over 3 miles, as you have to add to your height, the distance your feet are actually above the water.

However, Rangers post also says standing at the shore. I would assume at water level. So, I calculated it again, at 6 feet, standing on the bank. I figured at an average of about 6 feet high would see about 3.01, still more than 3 miles. To get down to 2 miles, you'd need to be a little over 4 feet tall.

So, I am confused by the choices listed, but will stick with my original figure of about three miles.

C'mon Ranger, your answer please......R

[crash]

Well lets see if my old high-school teacher was right

7 miles

[TBO/MN]

What ever you figure as the height above water level, find the square root of it, and multiply it by 1.23. Works every time.;-)
TBO/MN

[Smokin J]

My old high school teacher said the same thing!
7 Miles-
Now I am a high school teacher and I don't have a clue-but my guess is
7 miles.
Thanks

[curt quesnell]

ok fellas......

why is it that sometimes i can see islands far
off in the lake sometimes not (dont say fog or
clouds)....somedays you can see the sandy beach
...somedays the tree tops...somedays nothing at
all........?
i've taken every post as gospel so far...but
i think there is maybe another part to the
formula over water..

curt

[TBO/MN]

Seeing things over water has more to do with the temperature than anything else. As you know, if you are a driver, when it is hot you get those funny things in the highway that look like water, well those kind of things happen over water as well. The heat(sun light) reflects off of the water and causes your vision to be impaired. Those areas are actually super heated air the appear to be moving, because they are. With the movement comes the reflective phenomenon, thus being close to the water, your vision is impaired for distance.

Spooky stuff ;-)
TBO/MN

[ufda]

When you give your answer, would you also explain why it is different over water than over land. I get the impression the distance over water is surprisingly short, but standing here in Tucson, I can see mountains that are 60 miles away in Mexico. O.K. I guess I just answered my own question. If nothing is sticking up, the curvature of the earth on the lake prevents you from seeing the lakes surface any further than "X" miles (supposedly 3.x miles). Right? Wrong? This would not be the first time I had no idea what I was talking about :-)
ufda

[chrism]

Good question...
Taking into consideration the "average calculated" curvature of the earth, and the height of the average human, you will lose sight of an object between 7-11 miles. However, you will not see them at that distance unless they are wearing something like blaze orange!

If you are looking over big water, a rising tide or a couple of days of moderate/strong wind in your face will shorten the curvature making the distance smaller. Heat/humidity/pollution combo will also make a far away object seem much closer.

At least that is what I remember from my school days (I think)!!!!!!

[Silver/MI]

For some reason 7 miles sticks in my mind. But with evaporating water seems like it would be less. Sticking with 7.

[Jersey John]

10 miles I think! To far for me to swim, thats for sure! Be safe and have a great fishing season.

[RANGER]

ANSWER............2 to 3 MILES!!!!!!!!!!

TBO/MN HAS IT RIGHT!!! - 1.23 x SQUARE ROOT OF HEIGHT. GOOD JOB TBO/MN!!

ACTUALLY, THIS CALCULATION CAN BE FOUND IN THE ANNAPOLIS "BOOK OF SEAMENSHIP" USED AS PART OF THE CURICULUM AT THE ACADEMY.

I WAS FLOORED WHEN I LEARNED THIS. I THOUGHT IT WAS BETWEEN 7 AND 10 MILES!!!

TO ANSWER ANOTHER THREAD - OVER LAND THIS DIFFERS TREMENDOUSLY BECAUSE THE SURFACE DOES NOT FOLLOW THE "PERFECT" CURVATURE OF THE EARTH.

LIKE I STATED - I WAS REALLY SURPRISED!!!!!!!!!

RANGER