shadow band
astronomy
Quick Summary
Shadow bands are narrow, parallel bands of light and shade that appear to rush across the landscape just before or after the totality phase of a solar eclipse. These optical effects are caused by the refraction of sunlight through small variations in Earth's atmosphere. They are typically several centimeters wide and their movement and direction are influenced by air currents at different altitudes. This phenomenon is comparable to the shimmering patterns seen on the bottom of a sunlit swimming pool.12
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