Why should sailors delight in a red sky at night?

Question

Or indeed, why should they take warning if there's a red sky at morning? Really impress me by using "Tyndall's Effect" in your answer. I'm not that good at science.

Thanks to two people whose answers I've read, BUT I already KNOW what a red sky at those times of day means. What I want to know is why RED means different things in the a.m. and in the p.m., and WHY the color red indicates bad weather. Also Tyndall Effect has something to do with the scattering of blue light, but doesn't it also have to do with the scattering of red light, too?

OK, lay it on me scientists. I can handle it. I want wavelengths (including mu's) and discussion of Tyndall's Effect (does it apply or doesn't it?) and whether or not the angle at which the light is hitting the "weather" has anything to do with it, WHY does this saying contain scientically accurate advice?

Answer 1

ok i'm sorry, but rather than write it all out, please go here: http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/weather-sailor.html

smooth sailing

Answer 2

Well, I don't know how much this'll impress you, as I know nothing of Tyndall's Effect, but I'm pretty sure this is the sort of answer you're looking for.

Sailors should delight in a red sky at night because it means that precipitation (rain) is leaving. I'm not sure on all the details, but when water particles hit the sun at a particular angle, they are brought out in a reddish hue. So if they see a red sky at night, that means that the rain particles are moving away (again, has to do with the angle the sunlight hits it), and if in the morning they see the rain particles, that's not good, because the rain is *coming*.

Once again, that's the simplified version.

Answer 3

"John Tyndall's answer to "Why is the sky blue?" is an example of a different kind, one that got lost from general public knowledge. I said that it's been with us for over a hundred years, but to track it down, you need to know that the blue sky is caused by the Tyndall Effect." The red sky at night means good weather the next morning, and red sky in morning meant bad weather was ahead.

Answer 4

I have a theory about this. It's a simple theory, but I think sayings like these have rather simple explanations. (But sometimes there is no truth or explanation to them at all!)

I think this saying has its origin in northern Europe (England perhaps?). In northern Europe, "bad" weather, meaning low pressure areas with fronts, clouds, rain, and windy conditions, very often approach from the west. (Let's not go any deeper into why they usually come from the west.)

If the sun looks big and red and beautiful in the evening when it sets, it means that there are no clouds to the west - because if there were clouds, you wouldn't see the sun. And if you see no clouds in the west in the evening, chances are that there will still be no clouds (or only thin clouds) above you when you wake up in the morning, since the clouds usually move from the west to the east.

But why a red sky in the morning would be a bad sign, I don't know. I don't think that part has any truth to it. Perhaps it's just a nice rhyme?

Answer 5

Red sky in morning could indicate that a storm was brewing. The sky looks red because of the way the light reflects/refracts through the dusty atmosphere. Particles of dust and other materials in the air work as seeds for condensation. This forms clouds as the sun warms water causing it to evaporate throughout the day. Rapid formation of storm clouds could happen. A red sky at night wasn't as much of a threat because the air and water cool at night without the sun's presence to cause a more rapid evaporation and condensation into clouds.

Answer 6

the answer you want to know is just a myth. And first and formost how can you see a red sky at night. It is night. The sky is dark and that's why it is night.
But there is a red sky at sunset and sunrise because the color red travels the farthest among the other colors of the "white light".

Answer 7

red sky at night usually meant good weather the next day. red sky in the morning was a warning of bad weather to come that day. easy

Answer 8

We use that over here as red sky at night shepards delight red sky in the morning shepards warning, it was like the old way of telling the weather I spose.

Answer 9

hay thats to teckncale for me.

Answer 10

My head hurts, now. Thanks...