How do sunsets occur

The result is that the sunlight takes on an orange or red cast, which we can see reflected from clouds or other objects as a colorful sunset or sunrise. Large particles of pollution or dust scatter light in a way that changes much less for different colors.

The result is that a dusty or polluted sky is usually more grayish white than blue. Similarly, cloud droplets typically 10 millionths to millionths of a meter are much larger than visible light waves, so they scatter light without much color variation. This is why light scattered by clouds takes on the same color as the incoming light.

For example, clouds will appear white or gray at midday and orange or red at sunrise or sunset. This is why sunsets or sunrises are so much prettier when some clouds are available to show us the colors. ScienceDaily, 15 November University of Wisconsin - Madison. Retrieved November 10, from www. Quantum Body Scanner?

Robustness to scattering is a common requirement for communications and for imaging Why electrons can even be ejected from an Tags: curiosities , weather.

University of Wisconsin—Madison. Curiosities: What determines the colors of the sky at sunrise and sunset? November 6, At sunset, light has to travel through a greater distance of atmosphere to reach our eyes — so even more blue light, and even some green and yellow light, gets filtered out.

But why are they seemingly more saturated during the colder months? But the explanation for why low humidity produces better sunsets is a bit indirect. These can be chemicals naturally produced by trees, they can be from the wind kicking up dirt and dust into the atmosphere, or they can be from man-made pollution sources. When these aerosols attract water vapor, they swell. That is, they block the view. Also: Some people just might like the gauzier sunsets produced by occluded air.

As we approach the winter solstice, the time the sun takes to set lengthens, due to the angle the sun takes in setting into the ground. During the equinoxes, the sun pretty much sinks into the ground at a degree angle. Nearer the winter solstice, the sun sets on more of an angle, drawing out the time it takes to set. Which is to say: Sunset colors linger closer to the winter solstice, which allows us to enjoy them for longer.

One last thing: The clouds may be more conducive to beautiful sunsets in the winter. After a day or two of clouds, or rain, or snow, and these weather systems move westward, they set up conditions for stunning sunsets draped by clouds. We look at the sunset in the western sky, they provide a theater-like backdrop for the sun. Those clouds can then reflect those beautiful warm hues back to our eyes, intensifying the experience.