Green Flash, is it real?

[temptress]

So I have sailed in the tropics for many years and folks talk of a thing called the Green Flash. Apparently seen as the sun sets.

I have never seen this and have decided it is not a real event.

Anyone here ever actually seen this happen? If so what causes it?I

 

[Resolution]

Depends when you start to drink your rum.

 

[temptress]

Depends when you start to drink your rum.

Tried with and without rum... Still not seen one but I am sure the rum helps

 

[Falling Star]

It is real, but rarely seen.

Green (or emerald) flash is caused by atmospheric refraction.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/atmos/redsun.html

 

[Noahsdad]

Yes. Saw it a couple of times from the green flash bar on St Vincent. Sober.

 

[temptress]

It is real, but rarely seen.

Green (or emerald) flash is caused by atmospheric refraction.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/atmos/redsun.html

Link is broken....

 

[Chalker]

Yes, seen two.
And it is not a green hue on the horizon, it really is a flash. Blink and you missed it.

 

[Steve Clayton]

Yup; twice.
1st time you think "did I really see what I thought I saw"

 

[Kelpie]

Someone suggested it was caused by the sun shining through the crest of a wave at the moment that it sets. Seems plausible...

 

[Arcady]

Yes - it's real, but rare. Have seen it probably two or three times in a lifetime so far!

 

[oldharry]

Saw it a couple of years ago in the Canaries after a lifetime hoping to... it really is 'blink and you miss it'. Curiously it didnt show up on the video I was taking at the time. Makes me wonder whether it is real or some trick the eyes play, as its the same brilliant emerald green that you see going into a dark place after being seriously dazzled by snow.

 

[earlybird]

It's real enough. I lived for 25 years in a house overlooking the Irish Sea. For much of the year from there the sun set below the sea horizon, and I looked for, and saw the green flash a number of times The necessary condition is a very clear atmosphere right down to the horizon. It's momentary, a casual look won't see it.
As above, I theorised that it was the extreme upper limb of the sun shining through the very top surface of the water.

 

[ex-Gladys]

As above, I theorised that it was the extreme upper limb of the sun shining through the very top surface of the water.

A simple consideration of the physics would discount that... The angle of incidence of the sun's rays on the (curved) surface of the sea would give a reflection rather than penetration and refraction (i.e. light would bounce off when nearly parallel rather than penetrating)... The explanation given earlier is the real one

 

[Salty John]

Seen it a couple of times, never filmed it despite hundreds of attempts.
http://www.saltyjohntheblog.com/

 

[Spyro]

Never mind seeing one I'd never heard of it. Very interesting link though. Every day is a school day. I thought it was just a pair of trainers

 

[earlybird]

A simple consideration of the physics would discount that... The angle of incidence of the sun's rays on the (curved) surface of the sea would give a reflection rather than penetration and refraction (i.e. light would bounce off when nearly parallel rather than penetrating)... The explanation given earlier is the real one

Not sure that I buy that. Total reflection, if I remember from my schooldays, only occurs when going from a denser to less dense medium. Some sunlight will penetrate. Anyway, the surface of the sea is wrinkly, giving various angles of incidence.
(I assume that the "earlier explanation" is the visual artefact ).
Edit; just looked it up in Wiki. It's refraction, they say!

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

I've never seen one and have now given up trying... Mind you, I love watching the sun go down so maybe one day!

Pete

 

[michael_w]

I've seen it at dawn too and once on the North Sea when crossing back from The Netherlands.

 

[mjcoon]

Someone suggested it was caused by the sun shining through the crest of a wave at the moment that it sets. Seems plausible...

Yes, much more convincing than anything atmospheric (not much green there...)!

Mike.

 

[RupertW]

I've seen it at dawn too and once on the North Sea when crossing back from The Netherlands.

The only time I've seen it was dawn - easier to see then I think because your eyes are adjusted to darkness so the green flash is bright before being overwhelmed by the brilliance of the first actual bit of the Sun appearing.