BUFFALO, N.Y. — When the temperatures drop, the skies can really light up.
Cold arctic air can play tricks with the eyes much like dry hot air in the desert. In arid regions very hot air can cause mirages where light bends in ways to make water appear where there is none.
When it gets very cold, icy crystals can also bend beams of light to create illusions that are not really there. In this case the illusions are called light pillars.
Check out these photos sent to use by viewer Dave Buckmaster of East Amherst.
Light pillars are what appear to be beams of light emanating from a light source on the ground. In the very cold air ice crystals form that float in the air and act like little tiny mirrors and reflect the light coming from a light source. From a distance the light source appears to be producing a beam of light above it.
Like a rainbow, the beam of light is not actually there, but its what your eye sees as all of the ice crystals between you and the source of light reflect the light back to your eye. Ice crystals need very cold air to form, usually at temperatures near 0 degrees.
