Sun Set, over Lincoln City, through the lower
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 , dust, aerosols and water drops scatter and absorb the rays throughout their long passage. Reds, yellows and golds 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 vapour 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.
Size: 6600px × 2717px
Location: Lincoln
Photo credit: © Steve Welsh / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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