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During the middle of the day, the sun is for the most part above our heads. This means the sunlight goes right through the Earth's atmosphere. During sunrise and sunset, the sun is hitting the Earth and the Earth's atmosphere at an angle. When the light hits the atmosphere the light is broken up, appearing in the sky as many different colors. The similar thing happens when you shine a ray of light into a prism, it comes out as many different colors.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoBecause the sunlight has to pass through more atmosphere when it's on the horizon. By the time you see the light, the shorter wavelengths of light (violet and blue) are completely scattered away, and all you see are the longer wavelengths of visible light (Oranges and reds) being scattered by dust particles and clouds - the dust particles are bigger than the particles in atmospheric haze, so they do a better job of reflecting the longer wavelengths of light than the haze can.
Wiki User
∙ 16y agoPartly due to dust in the upper atmosphere.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoBecause the composition of the atmosphere changes from day to day (specifically, the composition of particulates). These are what scatter sunlight in ways that can make sunsets colorful.
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What causes the earth to have periods of light and darkness?
The rotation. When the earth rotates, sides of it don't see the sun. Which are like sunsets and sunrises. The earth is rotating which takes away light and gives light.
How are colorful flower usually pollinated?
colorful flowers are usally pollinated by the flow of the wind
Why is the sky blue while the grass is green?
The sky is blue because the atmosphere scatters sunlight. Light with shorter wavelengths (blue, purple, violet) is scattered more in the atmosphere, so the sky appears blue; this is the same reason that sunsets and sunrises appear red and orange: at sunset/sunrise, the sun's light hits the atmosphere at a low angle, increasing the distance that the light must travel through the atmosphere. Thus, more colors are 'scattered out', even the blue-end of the spectrum, leaving red and orange colors.
The Earth's atmosphere extends about how many miles above the earth's surface?
It extends about 75 miles. Earth's Atmosphere The Earth is surrounded by a blanket of air, which we call the atmosphere. It reaches over 560 kilometers (348 miles) from the surface of the Earth, so we are only able to see what occurs fairly close to the ground. Early attempts at studying the nature of the atmosphere used clues from the weather, the beautiful multi-colored sunsets and sunrises, and the twinkling of stars. With the use of sensitive instruments from space, we are able to get a better view of the functioning of our atmosphere.
What does colorful mean?
Colorful means "possessing prominent and varied colours", interesting, distinctive, or profane and obscene, particularly in the sense of "colourful language".
What is full of promise?
Sunrises and sunsets.
What sunsets and sunrises?
The earth's rotation.
What causes Earth''s rotation?
Days and nights, sunrises and sunsets.
Do other planets have sunrises and sunsets?
Yes
How many sunrises and sunsets in 35 years?
12320 each.
What can occur long after a volcanic eruption?
brilliantly colored sunrises and sunsets
Why are sunsets sometimes very very colorful?
High humidity, clouds, smoke and air pollution can cause colorful sunsets.
How many sun hours does maui Hawaii get?
Sunrises and sunsets are the same as other regular places in the southern US.
Which natural phenomenon occurs for many years after major explosive volcanic eruptions such as Tambora and Pinatubo?
Brilliantly colored sunrises and sunsets
Why astronauts may see 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets every day as they travel around earth?
In one day they orbit the earth 16 times.
Why does the color of sunsets vary day to day?
Because the composition of the atmosphere changes from day to day (specifically, the composition of particulates). These are what scatter sunlight in ways that can make sunsets colorful.
Do the ice caves in antarctica melt and create lots of water?
Yes. Thawing occurs during the months without sunsets, and then re-freezing occurs during the months without sunrises.
