How are heat waves transparent but also have shadows?
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the difference of hotter ripples in the air bends light. this is refraction like surfaces of lenses or water, but softer because the change is between air temperatures, not one clear surface. then when the refracted light reaches opaque (not clear) surfaces it is not even anymore, some light has rippled together making brighter areas, other places have been left in the dark. you can see this same effect where hot and cold water are moving around together, but this may not be obvious through the water’s surface refraction. you could say it gets ‘overshadowed’ or ‘drowned out’!
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