What Causes Atmospheric Optics?
Atmospheric optical phenomena occur due to light's interaction with atmospheric particles. Refraction, reflection, and diffraction by water droplets, ice crystals, or dust create stunning visual effects.
Rainbows: More Than Refraction
Rainbows don't just display refraction; they're a complex interplay of reflection and dispersion inside water droplets. Each raindrop contributes to the arc, dispersing a spectrum of colors.
Halos: Ice Crystal Wonders
Halos are rings or arcs around the sun or moon, caused by refraction through hexagonal ice crystals in high cirrus clouds. Their angular radius is usually about 22 or 46 degrees.
Green Flash at Sunset
The elusive green flash occurs at sunset or sunrise, when the sun's green light is more refracted than red, briefly creating a green spot on the upper rim of the solar disk.
Mirages: Bending Light Paths
Mirages are formed by light bending due to temperature gradients in the atmosphere, creating the illusion of water on the road or inverted distant objects.
Glories: Circular Rainbow Relatives
Glories resemble circular rainbows surrounding the shadow of an observer, usually seen from an airplane. Light is backscattered by water droplets to form this phenomenon.
Sundogs: Mock Suns
Sundogs, or parhelia, appear as bright spots on either side of the sun. Formed by sunlight refracting through plate-shaped ice crystals, they're part of the larger halo family.
What initiates atmospheric optical phenomena?
Sunlight interaction with atmospheric gases
Light interaction with atmospheric particles
Electromagnetic fields in the atmosphere
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