Hafgerdingar
A mystery from the King's Mirror explained
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 9218661 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Waldemar H Lehn (University of Manitoba), Irmgard I Schroeder (Research Manitoba) |
| Year | 2003 |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 211-217 |
| Publication date | 2003-07-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Polar Record (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0032-2474 • E-ISSN: 1475-3057 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s0032247403002924 |
| OpenAlex | W2283226412 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 7 |
The medieval King's Mirror describes Iceland and Greenland with a scientific accuracy that is remarkable. One of the very few exceptions is the hafgerdingar in the Greenland Sea. The term translates as ‘sea hedges,’ within which a mariner may become trapped at great peril. Many have believed that a real event was being described, although none of the proposed explanations has been totally satisfactory. The most common view currently is based on Steenstrup (1871), who explained the phenomenon as a tidal wave following a submarine earthquake. A simpler and more consistent theory is developed here: that the hafgerdingar are an optical phenomenon, specifically, a superior mirage. Such mirages, quite common in the polar regions, can produce an appearance fully consistent with the original description, as illustrated by several photographs and a computer simulation. Even the peril to seafarers has been corroborated, in the sense that such a mirage is frequently followed by a storm
Astrophysics · Epistemology · Event (particle physics) · Geography · Meteorology · Phenomenon · Physics · Storm · Submarine · Geology · History · Marine and environmental studies · Oceanography · Philosophy · Planetary Science and Exploration · Radio Wave Propagation Studies
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| Citations per year | 0.09 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2004 - 2006 (3) |
| Highly cited | No |