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DaRealSherlock t1_j2lqfcs wrote

Reply to comment by uber_snotling in Does cold temperature make vistas more 'crisp' looking? by colorado_hick

I agree with this, but there might be more to it. Hot air has a different refraction index due to the faster movement of particles in it. This is just something to add on.

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bigbluedoor t1_j2mqjf4 wrote

also pollen! in much of the world the warmer months have air quality reduction from tree and plant pollen in the air.

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Another_Penguin t1_j2nqzow wrote

Scintillation causes blurring of images over distance. The mechanism is that rising bubbles of warmer air act like lenses. This kind of lensing is what causes stars to twinkle, and also the "heat shimmer" you might see above a hot roof or hot pavement.

Scintillation is generally weakest in the morning when the ground is cold.

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