Can mankind change the color of the sky?

Question

If waste gases were dramatically increased (even more than currently produced) for a sustained period of time, would the color of the sky change? (This is from an argument that color of the sky depends on atmosphere composition which depends on gravity.)

Not including particulate matter, gasses only.

Answer 1

Once again, let's try this the semi-scientific way.

Different materials interact with light in different ways due to density and composition.

Material density leads to the refractive index (how much light bends or alters trajectory when moving from one medium to another). This can potentially stratify light into its seprate color constituents kind of like in a prism, under the right circumstances.

Composition is important since some materials absorb or transmit different frequencies (colors) of light.

We have already changed the atmosphere of the planet or at least certain locales... Now, when you see sunlight around noon, the sun is pretty directly beating down on the earth and light is taking the shortest path through the atmosphere. So, we see mostly blue light frequencies. But as the sun sets, light is taking al onger path through the atmosphere, so the blues get filtered out and we see the reds and yellows and oranges.

Now, if the chemicals in the atmoshpere change proportions, different wavelengths might be let through and filtered out. So maybe rather than seeing reds and yellows at sunset you'd see greens and purples, or something.

But yeah, we've definitely put out a ton of waste material. Smog and other pollutants are generally what gives us our red and orange sunsets. If all those pollutants weren't in there, different wavelengths would be getting through.

So, yeah, it's happening all the time as we dump more pollutants into the atmosphere. :) w00t! Go us!

Answer 2

Only using gasses, no particular matter? So smog, which undeniably does change the color of the sky isn't allowed? Even then, I think we could. The color of the sky depends, as you said, on atmospheric composition and atmospheric density. Without smog, it might take us thousands of years to produce enough gas, but it could be done, with carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide we'd eventually end up with a Venus.

Answer 3

Mankind has changed the color of the sky on a local level many times and in many places across the industrialized world. All it takes is a lot of smoke stack factories, automobile exhaust and other sources of air pollution. In high enough concentration the particulates in the pollution will alter the scattering of light in the atmosphere, changing the sky from blue to shades of brown, gray, etc.

Answer 4

Color is subjective. You can change the color of the sky by taking LSD if you really want.

As far as changing the specific wave-length of light that penetrates it with the most abundance, yeah. Eventually enough change in the composition of the upper stratosphere will result in the said effect of "Changing the color of the sky."

Of course, the time of day, the type of weather, the time of year and even the temperature all change the "color" of the sky as we perceive it.

Answer 5

Well, the sky might become a little more light or dark. A color change is theoretically possible, but I'd think that the atmosphere would not allow humans to survive then.

Answer 6

YES. By wrecking up all the plant growth that puts gasses and other stuff like eucaliptusinto the AIR. AND Also by stuffing up the water i mean the sea changing it to mud colour or somthing would change the colour of the sky.

Hope that helps. Tony.

Answer 7

Sure. If you threw all the N bombs at once, all the volcanos would probably sprew with tremendous force, and the skies would potentially darken and a global cool down would occur. If you look at Hong Kong/Beijing/Chile certain days of LA, the color of the sky has not been clear like it was just 20yrs ago.

Answer 8

Been to Los Angeles lately? We already have. It's brownish yellow most of the time, with the occasional blue cloud. Probably not as exciting as you were hoping for, sorry.

Answer 9

I think pollution would change the color of the sky but I think before this happened we would all die. But' that's just my opinion

Answer 10

Pink sun set? thats smog.