Just a quick thought that might open up some discussion.

When we observe a heat haze over a desert or any other heat source we see distortion of the light passing through this heat haze.

Why is this so do you think?

The answer may be that the air particles are rising thus the lights re-emission is affected. I would then ask why this distortion is not observed when light passes through high velocity winds, as seen in hurricanes and cyclones as well?

Heat haze seems to distort light yet high velocity winds don't seem to.

Care to discuss? :)

The wavering appearance of hot air is due to two facts:

1) The index of refraction of hot air is different than the index of refraction of cooler air. When light moves from a region of hot air to a region of cooler air (or vice versa), it is refracted, or bent.

2) The heat from the hot surface is carried away by convection -- rivers of hot air flow upwards, while adjacent rivers of cooler air flow downward to replace it.

Add the two phenomena together, and you get wavering, rippling "heat waves" over a hot surface.

- Warren

ahhh thanks Chroot....I think that answers the question.