Atmospheric turbulence is making your photos blurry

A good understanding of atmospheric turbulence can significantly improve your photography. Atmospheric turbulence occurs when solar radiation heats the Earth's surface during sunny days. As the warmed surface heats the air above it, rising currents and pockets of air with different temperatures create turbulence that can blur images, even when using very sharp lenses.  The effect becomes more noticeable when there is a considerable distance between the camera and the subject. Under these conditions, photographs may appear soft or lack fine detail due to the constantly changing air between the lens and the subject.  To minimize the effects of atmospheric turbulence, many photographers prefer shooting near sunset or, even better, at sunrise. Sunrise is often the best time because the atmosphere has cooled and stabilized overnight, resulting in steadier air and sharper images.  The accompanying images illustrate the impact of atmospheric turbulence on photographic image quality.