“Sunset Rays”
Day 66 of 366 Day Project
“Magic is everywhere, explore & be amazed everyday!”
Sunset rays pass long and deep through the lower atmosphere. They are bent and twisted around the very rim of the Earth.
The atmosphere acts as a giant lens which refracts low sunset rays into long curved paths passing through up to 40 times as much air than the rays from a high midday sun.
Air, dust, aerosols and water drops scatter and absorb the rays throughout their long passage.
Red, yellow and gold colour arise because the air itself, small dust and aerosol particles smaller than the wavelengths of visible light, Rayleigh scatterers*, scatter short wavelength blue and green rays much more strongly than longer wavelength yellow and red. The remaining direct unscattered light is dimmed but relatively enriched in reds and yellows. Absorption of specific green and blue wavelengths by ozone and water vapor molecules redden the light further. The sunset rays are sometimes reflected back and forth between clouds and the ground. All this goes to makes a spectacle seemingly painted with every colour and shade of the palette.
When was the last time you stopped to watch a sunset?
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