“In 1887 a curiously interesting theory evolved from the many sightings of the green flash from shipboard: that it was caused by sunlight passing through the crests of waves on the horizon. The green color was said to be due to the passage of light through the green sea water. However, the observation of the green flash over land as well as sea means that this theory is not sufficient or even plausible.”

—Aden & Marjorie Meinel, Sunsets, twilights, and evening skies, 1983.