2006-06-20 10:59:07 · 6 answers · asked by hilldebrandt 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
The setting sun glows a reddish color on days when there are more particles in the air for the light to be scattered by.
Typically, because the sunlight has to travel through more atmosphere when it is 4 degrees above the horizon as opposed to when it is directly above, there are already more particles in the air to scatter the light, so the sunset appears orange because the smaller wavelengths of visible light (blue, green, yellow) are scattered away from our eye.
The more particles (and the larger they are) that are in the atmosphere (water vapor particles due to humid air, pollution), the more wavelengths of light can be scattered. So orange will get scattered away leaving only red coming to our eyes.
2006-06-20 11:57:41 · answer #1 · answered by Bean 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The color of the glow of the sun depends on what type of particles, and the quantity of them, that are in the atmosphere.
2006-06-20 18:06:54 · answer #2 · answered by treefrog 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's not because of a hot day, it's the particles in the air refracting the light waves at the angle and distance the sun is away from you.
2006-06-20 18:15:32 · answer #3 · answered by bbkidchen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the amount of pollution changes the color of the setting sun...all those glorious sunsets are a product of pollution....
2006-06-20 18:09:50 · answer #4 · answered by susuze2000 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ummm....doesn't it always do that(glow red) regardless of hot days or not?
2006-06-21 03:33:06 · answer #5 · answered by elbis 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cause it is HOT Dammit! lol...
2006-06-20 18:02:23 · answer #6 · answered by Sam_I_Am 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋