  The study of light propagation has been a cornerstone of progress in physics
and technology. Recently, advances in control and shaping of light have created
significant interest in the propagation of complex structures of light --
particularly under realistic terrestrial conditions. While theoretical
understanding of this research question has significantly grown over the last
two decades, outdoor-experiments with complex light structures are rare, and
comparisons with theory have been nearly lacking. Such situations show a
significant gap between theoretical models of atmospheric light behaviour and
current experimental effort. Here, in an attempt to reduce this gap, we
describe an interesting result of atmospheric models which are feasible for
empirical observation. We analyze in detail light propagation in different
spatial bases and present results of the theory that the influence of
atmospheric turbulence is basis-dependent. Concretely, light propagating as
eigenstate in one complete basis is stronger influenced by atmosphere than
light propagating in a different, complete basis. We obtain these results by
exploiting a family of the continuously adjustable, complete basis of spatial
modes -- the Ince-Gauss modes. Our concrete numerical results will hopefully
inspire experimental efforts and bring the theoretical and empirical study of
complex light patterns in realistic scenarios closer together.
