Refraction and Green Flash

In this sunset many phenomena appear together:
– Green Flash, detached from the upper edge of the Sun as a Mock Mirage does. In this band there is a thermal inversion (cold air under the warmer air) which creates turbulence.
– Formation of the Mirage of the Sun in Omega shape. This formation is given by a strong temperature exchange (layer of cold air above the warmer air)
– A lower mirage on the ship

But what I find very interesting is the comparison between the Mirage of the Sun given by astronomical refraction and the mirage of the ship which is given by terrestrial refraction. The effect of astronomical refraction also generates a delay in the image of the Sun which has actually already set for about 2 minutes.

It’s also notable that “vanishing line”in the Ship Mirage is slightly lower than in the Omega Mirage. This is due to the fact that the ship is closer (at a finite distance) to my observation point, while the Sun is at an optically infinite distance. Visit these pages by Andy T. Young for further information on astronomic refraction and terrestrial refraction 

Camera: Nikon D7100 – Sigma 600mm Shooting data: 600mm; 1/80sec.; f/29; ISO100