I believe so.  Air of different tempuratures have slighter different IORs.
That's why hot air rising casts shadows like ripples on the ground and
distorts the view.  Hot air has the lower density, so the viewing ray is going
from a higher IOR to a lower one on the ground.  At a shallow enough angle,
TIR should occur.

Mostly speculation on my part. :)

-Mike

SamuelT. wrote:

> When I read this statement of yours I immediately thought of mirages. I
> wonder if mirages are caused in part to this natural effect?
>

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