Green Flash

A sunset view from

our apartment.

As everyone knows Bob & I really enjoy watching the sunsets. If we're not out by the beach we stop what we are doing 15-20 mins before the sun sets and find a place to take it all in. When we were living in Mazatlan, people would gather on the Malecon/Boardwalk to watch so intently. We learn that everyone watches for the "green flash" at the end. What green flash? I have never heard of that or seen it. We watched evening after evening but never saw it. I was beginning to believe what a crock of caca. Not that Bob & I ever get bored looking for it but I wanted to see a green flash. Well, here in Puerto Escondido we see that green flash 2 -3 times a week. How cool! There really can be a green flash at the end of the sunset. In this months issue of "El Sol de la Costa" (a local magazine) an editor wrote and explains the science behind the green flash. I'm not a scientist and some of the reading was blah...blah...blah...to me but maybe I can explain what I read in between the lines. Apparently this green flash is visible anytime the sun is rising or setting on a clear (no clouds or haze) and low horizon. The flash lasts one - two seconds after the sun sets, the effect is very subtle so don't look for the sky to be lit up with green light. They say it helps to look away from the sun at the last possible instant so your vision isn't over saturated with the intensity of the sun. Although I never do in fear I'll miss the flash. So, what causes it? It has to do with refraction, scattering, and absorption. Anybody remember that from class?

Refraction. It's when the sunlight is bent by the earth's atmosphere. Refracting white light, combining all the colors thru water, glass or air that causes the different light wavelengths to be refracted at different angles. Sounds familiar, right? A rainbow!

Scattering. The size of the air's gas atoms causes blue wavelengths to be scattered across the sky which makes the sky blue. In the color spectrum Blue is the shortest wavelength while red is the longest. Green is actually the last color.

Absorption. Air apparently has a slight yellow absorption. When the sun approaches the horizon the solar light has to travel thru a lot more air. (38 times more air) So the sun loses the yellow coloring and the blue is scattered away leaving the colors red, orange & green. So, if we are lucky we'll see the green burst at the end of the sunset. It really is cool. Some days the burst of green is larger than others.

I know most of you don't have time to take in a sunset but next time you're at a lake or beach relaxing maybe you too can see the Green Flash.

My actual favorite time is after the sun sets. When the sky has layers of colors... pinks & purples mostly. The Pelicans are dive bombing into the ocean for their dinners. These are awesome birds and so acrobatic. We saw this one Pelican (poor thing)...he was floating on the water and didn't pay attention to the upcoming wave. That bird rolled several times in the waves before being slammed into the shore. We went and checked on him; he just had the wind knocked out of him. After few head shakes and he was fine. We couldn't believe what we had just seen. Does this happen often? I would think they would have better instincts as to when a wave is about to plow on top of them.