A demonstration of how observer height affects how far we can see over curved water on a spherical Earth. As the camera is positioned higher, it captures more of the ship beyond the horizon - a direct consequence of the geometry of curvature. Closer to sea level, the ship becomes completely obscured.
The key control: the ship is crossing perpendicular to the observer, meaning it is not receding from shore. Distance is not the variable. Height is.
“A clear horizon and a tanker holding position off the coast of San Diego provided the opportunity to zoom in from multiple elevations along Hill St above Sunset Cliffs in Point Loma.”
These observations confirm that the sea is level (not flat) – which is to say, it follows the curvature of the globe.
Video credit: Barry Shafto
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