Any spray that is hit with sunlight has potential for a rainbow. For instance, at Central Park's reservoir, there is a pump that sprays water in the air. Rainbows are frequently visible there....ain't no oil because that is drinking water for parts of the city.

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)

8. it was just at the right angle of the sun--

Reply to judesedit (Reply #6)

Sat Jun 23, 2012, 01:13 PM

Jun 2012

White light from the Sun has to hit the raindrops at a certain angle before a rainbow is possible.

Downtown Hound

(12,618 posts)

10. If that whale was breathing in oil like that through its blowhole

Reply to judesedit (Reply #6)

Sat Jun 23, 2012, 02:55 PM

Jun 2012

It probably would be either dead or dying. It's just the sunlight hitting the water, just like a regular rainbow.

LastLiberal in PalmSprings

(12,587 posts)

11. We used to run through the rainbows our lawn sprinklers made

Reply to judesedit (Reply #6)

Sat Jun 23, 2012, 11:33 PM

Jun 2012

Those were the days when a well-kept green lawn was a positive thing, plants didn't have to be drought resistant, drip watering systems had not been invented, and rainbows were associated with pots of gold.

A rainbow is a phenomena caused by reflection of the sun by drops of water. Each observer sees a different rainbow, and it is impossible to get any closer to the rainbow, nor further away. In fact, it is impossible for an observer to maneuver to see any rainbow from water droplets at any angle other than the customary one of 42 degrees from the direction opposite the Sun.

The whale is exhaling a huge amount of moist air. The videographer was in the right place at the right time:

These are sometimes called "spray bows." "There she blows!" actually began with whalers and not Bill Clinton (sarcasm). Here's another spray bow:

An oil rainbow is a thin sheen upon the surface of water:

Same principle, just a different angle of reflection. It's pretty, if you don't consider the source.

jmondine

(1,649 posts)

9. They are humpbacks, by the way.

Reply to 1monster (Original post)

Sat Jun 23, 2012, 02:27 PM

Jun 2012

Sorry, I'm a zoology nerd.

LastLiberal in PalmSprings

(12,587 posts)

12. Nerd away!

Reply to jmondine (Reply #9)

Sat Jun 23, 2012, 11:55 PM

Jun 2012

Humpbacks are amazing mammals which grow up to 52 feet long and 79,000 pounds. They have a well defined social structure and produce a sound we call "whale song" by forcing air through their nostrils (no vocal chords). Scientists don't know the purpose of the songs, which can last up to 24 hours and are different in the Atlantic and Pacific. Let's listen to a tune from the "Humpback Top 40":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Humpbackwhale2.ogg