A distorted Sun seen at sunset. The bottom of the solar disc is a mirage, an optical phenomenon in which distant objects may be seen inverted and susp

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A distorted Sun seen at sunset. The bottom of the solar disc is a mirage, an optical phenomenon in which distant objects may be seen inverted and suspended in mid air. Mirages of this type occur at high latitudes when a warm layer of air rests on a cold layer. The light rays coming from an object (here the Sun) are bent down from the warm layer producing the inverted image. The reddening of the solar radiation is a typical phenomenon often seen at sunsets and sunrises. It is caused by particulate matter such as aereosols and dust suspended in the atmosphere. These particles scatter blue light more strongly than red light making the Sun red and the rest of the sky blue.

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Size: 4471px × 3234px
Photo credit: © PEKKA PARVIAINEN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: atmospheric, disc, distorted, distortion, horizon, landscape, light, mirage, refraction, solar, sun, sunset