MET 200 Vog Bank

Lecture 14
Nature’s
Light Show
Atmospheric Optics

Ahrens Chapter 15

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Atmospheric Optics Scattering

The amazing variety of optical phenomena observed in
the atmosphere can be explained by four physical Things to look for
mechanisms. • Blue Sky
• White Clouds
• Blue Smoke
• Scattering • Red Sunsets
• Reflection
• Crepuscular Rays
• Refraction
• Diffraction

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 Why is this Sunset Red?
Scattering
Light is scattered by the air
molecules, cloud droplets,
and aerosols.

The resulting optics

depend on the size of the
scatterer.

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Scattering
Rayleigh Scattering
Rayleigh Scattering sunlight

Small objects such as air

molecules and fine smoke
particles most effectively
scatter blue light.
air molecule

Scattering of blue light by air molecules

is more than 9 times greater than
Rayleigh Scattering is nearly equal in all directions. scattering of red light.
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 Scattering by Air Molecules Scattering by Air Molecules

Rayleigh Scattering results in blue sky

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Scattering Scattering

Mie Scattering
sunlight

Larger objects such as

cloud droplets and ice
crystals scatter all visible
light equally well.
Cloud drop

Mie scattering is greatest parallel to incident light.

Rayleigh scatter is nearly equal in all directions.

Mie scattering is greatest parallel to incident light.

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Rayleigh and Mie Scattering Rayleigh and Mie Scattering

Scattering by Air Molecules and Clouds

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Rayleigh and Mie Scattering Rayleigh and Mie Scattering

Mie scattering results in white clouds and

the glare around the sun.
Scattering by Air Molecules and Aerosols Blue sky is the result of Rayleigh scattering.

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 Scattering by Smoke Scattering by Cloud Droplets

Mie scattering results in white clouds with black

Larger particles appear brown and smaller
bottoms when the clouds are tall enough.
particles scatter blue.
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Scattering by Cloud Particles Avoid exposed

places during
When all visible light
thunderstorms
is scattered away by
cloud drops the
cloud turns black.

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 Scattering by Cloud Particles Scattering by Cloud Particles

When the sun sets or

rises, the sunlight passes
through a long path of air.
Most of the blue light is
Rayleigh scattered out,
leaving red light, which is
Mie scattered toward the
observer by clouds.
When the sun sets or rises, the sunlight passes through a
long path of air. Most of the blue light is Rayleigh scattered
out, leaving red light, which is Mie scattered toward the
observer by clouds.

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Rayleigh and Mie Scattering Rayleigh and Mie Scattering

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Rayleigh and Mie Scattering Scattering by Aerosols

Crepuscular Rays

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Scattering by Fog Droplets Scattering by Fog Droplets

Crepuscular Rays Crepuscular Rays

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 Scattering by Aerosols Scattering by Fog Droplets

Crepuscular Rays Crepuscular Rays

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Crepuscular Rays Crepuscular Rays

Shadows cast by clouds or trees on hazy days result

Mountain’s Shadow
in crepuscular rays, also known as Jacob’s ladders.
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 Anti-crepuscular Rays Summarizing: Scattering
Scattering of light in the atmosphere causes many
familiar effects: blue skies, white clouds, hazy days,
colorful sunsets, crepuscular rays

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Impact of Vog on Sunset Reflection

The Law of Reflection
The angle a) of incident light
equals the angle b) of
reflected light.

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 Reflection Reflection by Water
Things to look for:
• Sun Pillars
• Circumhorizontal Arcs

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Reflection by Water Reflection by Water

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 Reflection by Water Reflection by Ice Crystals

Sun Pillars
The Law of Reflection
The angle a) of incident
light equals the angle
b) of reflected light.

Sunlight reflecting off of the ocean can

produce a sun pillar.

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Reflection by Ice Crystals Reflection by Ice Crystals

! Sun pillar

Sunlight reflecting off of plate-shaped ice crystals can

produce a sun pillar.

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 Reflection by Ice Crystals Reflection by Ice Crystals

Sun pillars commonly

occur beneath an
altostratus cloud just
after sunset.

Sun pillars commonly occur beneath an

altostratus cloud just after sunset.

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Reflection by Ice Crystals Sun Pillar

Sun pillars commonly occur beneath an

altostratus cloud just after sunset.

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 Sun Pillar Reflection and Scattering
by Dew Drops

Heiligenschein

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Reflection and Scattering Atmospheric Optics

by Dew Drops The amazing variety of optical phenomena observed in the
atmosphere can be explained by four physical mechanisms.
• Scattering
• Reflection
• Refraction
• Diffraction

Heiligenschein

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 Rayleigh and Mie Scattering Refraction
Things to look for Things to look for:
• Blue Sky • Mirage
• White Clouds • Green Flash
• Blue Smoke • Halo
• Red Sunsets • Tangent Arc
• Crepuscular Rays • Rainbow
• Heiligenschein

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Refraction Refraction
Light slows down as it passes Light slows down as it passes
from a less dense to a more Normal from a less dense to a more
dense medium. dense medium.

As light slows it bends toward As light slows it bends toward

the denser medium. Similar to the denser medium. Similar to
waves approaching a beach. waves approaching a beach.

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 Refraction Refraction in Air

The amount of bending depends on the wavelength (color)

of the light, leading to dispersion or separation of colors. Inferior Mirage

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Refraction in Air
Refraction in Air

Inferior Mirage

Inferior Mirage

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Refraction in Air Refraction in Air

Superior Mirage
Superior Mirage
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Refraction in Air Refraction in Air

Superior Mirage Superior Mirage

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 Scattering by Cloud Particles Refraction in Air

When the sun sets or rises, the sunlight passes through a

long path of air. Most of the blue light is Rayleigh
scattered out, leaving red light, which is Mie scattered
toward the observer by clouds. Note: the atmosphere also
refracts the sunlight, which causes red and green flashes. Green Flash is a form of superior mirage

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Refraction in Air Refraction in Air

Green Flash Green Flash Animation

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 Refraction in Air Refraction in Air

Green Flash Animation Red Flash

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Refraction by Ice Crystals Refraction by Ice Crystals

22 1/2˚ Halo
22 1/2˚ Halo
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Refraction by Ice Crystals Refraction by Ice Crystals

22 1/2˚ Halo
22 1/2˚ Halo
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Refraction by Ice Crystals Refraction by Ice Crystals

22 1/2˚ Halo around the moon 22 1/2˚ Halo and Upper Tangent Arch

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Refraction by Ice Crystals Refraction by Ice Crystals

Halo Complex Sun Dogs

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Refraction by Ice Crystals Refraction by Ice Crystals

Sun Dogs
Halo Complex
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Refraction by Ice Crystals Refraction by Ice Crystals

Halo Complex 46˚ Halo?

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Refraction by Ice Crystals Refraction by Ice Crystals

Lower Tangent Arc Lower Tangent Arc

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Refraction and Reflection Refraction by Water Drops

Sun Pillar and Sun Dog?

Rainbow in Hawaiian is ānuenue

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Refraction by Water Drops Descarte’s Schematic

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 Refraction by Water Drops Refraction by Rain

Sunlight Raindrops

Red

Violet
Observer

40° 42°

Primary Rainbow
http://punchandbrodie.com/ncyclo/rainbows/
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Refraction by Rain Refraction by Rain

Falling raindrops

Sunlight

d
let

Re
Vio

Observer

Double Rainbow
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Alexander’s Refraction by Rain
Dark Band

Double Rainbow

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Refraction by Rain Refraction by Rain

High Sun: Low Rainbow

Double Rainbow

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 Refraction by Rain Refraction and Reflection

Rainbow seen from Airplane

Low Sun: High Rainbow

Fog Bow: smaller drizzle droplets

reduce the dispersion of colors.

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Refraction and Reflection Refraction and Reflection

Fog Bow in Kilauea steam vent: cloud drops Fog Bow simulation: small cloud drops do
do not allow dispersion of colors. not allow dispersion of colors.

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 Questions?
Diffraction

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Diffraction Diffraction causes Interference

Constructive interference of light
waves can produce color
separation.
The physical mechanism in this
case is called diffraction.
Produces colors on soap films,
oil slicks, and music CDs.

Diffraction: the apparent bending of waves around small

obstacles and the spreading out of waves past small openings.

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 Diffraction by Soap Film Diffraction by Cloud Drops
Diffraction Results in
• Iridescence
• Corona
• Glory
• Supernumerary bows

Iridescence

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Diffraction by Airplane Window Diffraction by Cloud Droplets

Artificial Iridescence Corona

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Diffraction by Cloud Droplets Diffraction by Pollen

Corona

Corona
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Diffraction and Reflection Diffraction and Reflection

Glory Glory

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Diffraction and Reflection Diffraction and Reflection

Glory
Glory

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Diffraction and Reflection Diffraction and Reflection

Glory Glory and Fog Bow

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 Diffraction and Reflection Supernumerary Bows

Supernumerary Bows The faint bows in the inside of the primary rainbow are
caused by interference or diffraction in reflected rays.

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Summary: Atmospheric Optics Observation Assignment 12/5

The amazing variety of optical phenomena observed in

the atmosphere can be explained by four physical
mechanisms.

• Scattering
• Reflection
• Refraction
• Diffraction

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