Elusive 'green flash' of the sun caught on camera: Photographer snaps the fleeting phenomenon during an early morning walk

  • Green Flash phenomenon makes the sun 'turn green' as it rises or sets
  • It is caused by the atmospheric bending and scattering of sunlight
  • The elusive green flash lasts only a few seconds during sunrise or sunset

By Amanda Williams for MailOnline

Published: | Updated:

It is a moment so fleeting that it is rarely caught by the human eye - let alone on camera. 

But an amateur photographer has managed to record the elusive 'green flash' of the sun, an optical phenomenon that makes the sun appear to turn green as it rises above the horizon.

Derek Ryan, 50, spotted the unusual sight during an early morning walk at the beach at Tarves, Aberdeenshire, before work.

An amateur photographer has managed to record the elusive 'green flash' - an optical phenomenon which makes the sun appear to turn green as it rises above the horizon
Derek Ryan, 50, spotted the unusual sight during an early morning walk at the beach at Tarves, Aberdeenshire

An amateur photographer has managed to record the elusive 'green flash' of the sun, an optical phenomenon that makes the sun appear to turn green as it rises above the horizon. Derek Ryan, 50, spotted the unusual sight during an early morning walk at the beach at Tarves, Aberdeenshire, before work

A green flash is a phenomenon in which part of the sun can be observed suddenly and briefly changing colour. 

According to Nasa, the almost-mythical spectacle is caused by the atmospheric bending and scattering of sunlight.

THE FLEETING PHENOMENON

A green flash is a phenomenon in which part of the sun can be observed suddenly and briefly changing colour.  

The spectacle is caused by the atmospheric bending and scattering of sunlight.

Acting like a prism, Earth's atmosphere breaks white sunlight into individual colours, bending red colours slightly, and green and blue hues through increasingly larger angles.

It tends to last only a second or two during sunrise or sunset, as the sun changes from red or orange.

A green flash is more likely to be seen in clear air when more of the light from the sun reaches the observer without being scattered.

Acting like a prism, the atmosphere of the Earth breaks white sunlight into individual colours, bending red colours slightly, and green and blue hues through increasingly larger angles. 

It tends to lasts only a second or two during sunrise or sunset - which is why it is referred to as a flash - as the sun changes from red or orange.

A green flash is more likely to be seen in clear air when more of the light from the sun reaches the observer without being scattered.

Mr Ryan, a community nurse from Aberdeenshire, witnessed the spectacle on a local beach on 4 November.

He said: 'It's a phenomenon that you can see every now and then. 

'When you know where the sun rises then it can be fairly common to see.

'It was a nice morning and I was walking along the beach before my shift and managed to catch it just at the right time. 

A green flash is a phenomenon in which part of the sun can be observed suddenly and briefly changing colour. It is caused by the atmospheric bending and scattering of sunlight. Acting like a prism, Earth's atmosphere breaks white light into colours, bending red slightly, and green and blue through increasingly larger angles

A green flash is a phenomenon in which part of the sun can be observed suddenly and briefly changing colour. It is caused by the atmospheric bending and scattering of sunlight. Acting like a prism, Earth's atmosphere breaks white light into colours, bending red slightly, and green and blue through increasingly larger angles

A Green Flash captured in time lapse Santa Cruz, California. The phenomenon tends to lasts only a second or two during sunrise or sunset - which is why it is referred to as a flash - as the sun changes from red or orange

A Green Flash captured in time lapse Santa Cruz, California. The phenomenon tends to lasts only a second or two during sunrise or sunset - which is why it is referred to as a flash - as the sun changes from red or orange

'I had set the camera up to take a photo of it when the sun was rising and just happened to be in the exact right place when it was happening.

'It was stunning. It was the first time I managed to get a good shot of it.'

The flash is so fleeting that many people believe that anyone lucky enough to witness it will always be true 'in matters of the heart. 

This image shows the development of a green flash at sunset in San Francisco. The phenomenon appears to show part of the sun suddenly and briefly changing colour

This image shows the development of a green flash at sunset in San Francisco. The phenomenon appears to show part of the sun suddenly and briefly changing colour

 

 

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