wrote in :

It is purely an effect of heating air to a temperature sufficient for
the reaction; the heat source is irrelevant.

Good point. For example, in the following nuclear test footage,
the red/brown cloud around the stem of the mushroom is nitrous
oxides caused by the heat of the fireball. It's almost literally
"burning the air".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WsouJ4YzO4

Brian
--
http://www.earthwaves.org/forum/index.php - Earth Sciences discussion
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?