Another important factor is that Earth’s
atmosphere is constantly changing.
Air near the surface can have a different temperature and density from air above it.
Different layers can move at different speeds and contain different amounts of moisture and particles.
These variations can affect the way light travels.
Over the ocean, this effect can become particularly interesting because the surface of the sea and the air immediately above it can have significant temperature differences.
Warm and cool layers may exist close together, creating conditions in which light from distant objects becomes distorted.
This phenomenon is
associated with atmospheric refraction and can sometimes produce mirages or unusual apparent positions.
An object can appear higher, lower, stretched, compressed, or otherwise displaced from where it actually is.
The result can be deeply confusing to an observer.
Why the Sea Makes the Illusion Even More Striking
Ikaria’s location provides a dramatic natural setting for atmospheric optical phenomena.
