The green flash and clear aim turbulence

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Abstract
There has long been speculation about why the green flash can be seen on one day, while on another apparently similar day it cannot. Although the green flash can be produced by a number of different refractive structures in the atmosphere, only one is of consequence when the viewing is done over the irregular terrain of most land surfaces. A combination of extensive observations and simple theory suggests that this refractive structure is formed by gravity waves which have wavelengths between about 0.2 and 2.0 kilometers. In the atmosphere such waves derive their energy from wind shear and are the same waves that are associated with clear air turbulence. This model not only explains the frequent observations of multiple green flashes, but also, by demonstrating a dependence on atmospheric dynamics, it accounts for the variability in the occurrence of the green flash on otherwise comparable days.

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