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Waldemar Lehn, Atmospheric Refraction Scientist on Sunsets
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Atmospheric Refraction Scientist, Waldemar Lehn responds to the idea that Inuit are seeing the sun rise and set in a different place than it should be – some 25 degrees off course. He also addresses how and why they are seeing the sun return several days before it should. He attributes it to an optical ducting effect. He discusses at length the physical parameters that would create this effect. Many effects are possible however he is skeptical about the Inuit idea that the stars are out of position because the effects of refraction are only visible in the very narrow area above the horizon. He is the only person who works on this kind of research with this specific interest. He appreciates the Inuit as observers and would very much like to get additional scientific data from them. He says the indigenous people are talking about observations whereas the scientists are using optics to interpret those observations. He mentions the history of refraction as an old science. He is impressed by the Inuit observations although he says their interpretation of the tilting of the earth is wrong.
