Question

What is looming? How is it formed? Explain with figure.

Answer 1

Looming is a kind of mirage observed in very cold regions in which distant object appears to be hanging mid way in the air.
It is formed by the total internal reflection of light (in downward direction) caused by atmospheric refraction.
Looming produces a virtual and erect image of an object above horizon where the warmer (optically rarer) air remains above the colder (optically denser) air in the atmosphere.