Scott Carlin (Fine Art Photography) caught this ever changing distorted sun on the morning of 13th April. ©Scott Carlin, shown with permission. Refraction of the sun’s rays through multiple layers of air at different temperatures produce the distortions. This “mock-mirage” is a sign of temperature inversions with unusually cooler air at lower levels. During the night the earth's surface cools by radiation to a clear sky. The cooled surface in turn cools air in contact with it. Strong versions of mock-mirages have green flashes at the upper tip. Sunset and sunrise mirages Temperature inversions Mock mirages Green flashes