Part 3/15:
DST attributes horizon disappearances to inferior mirages—refractions of light caused by temperature gradients in the air. These can sometimes produce visual distortions, making objects seem to "melt" into the ground or water or appear displaced.
How Mirages Form
Mirages result when sunlight passes through layers of air with varying densities, bending the light. For instance, when the ground heats the air directly above it, this can lead to a refractive index gradient, causing light rays to curve or bend upward, creating virtual images of distant objects.