Sunset 'green flash' observed from Ocean Beach

Ocean Beach on San Francisco's west side is a documented vantage point for the atmospheric optical phenomenon known as the 'green flash,' which can occasionally be seen at sunset over the Pacific Ocean. The green flash is caused by the refraction and dispersion of sunlight in the atmosphere, briefly producing a green spot or flash above the sun as it sets. Photographers and observers in San Francisco have captured and reported green-flash sightings from Ocean Beach and nearby headlands.