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Discovering Atmospheric Optics: A Guide to Phenomena in Earth's High Atmosphere

Learn about how dust, aerosols, and water droplets interact with light in the atmosphere, creating stunning optical effects like blue skies, red sunsets, nacreous clouds, and more. Explore the science behind reflection, refraction, and scattering in the sky. Delve into the mysteries of Noctilucent Clouds and Rocket Trails.

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Discovering Atmospheric Optics: A Guide to Phenomena in Earth's High Atmosphere

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  1. Mr. Hartwell -- F-M Meteorology Atmospheric Optics High Atmosphere http://www.atoptics.co.uk

  2. Earth’s Atmosphere

  3. Atmosphere Optics • Dust, aerosols, & water droplets reflect& refract light from the sun • Air particles scatter colors to make the sky blue and sunsets red • Air at different temperatures & densities refract light in different ways

  4. Reflection • Reflection: Re-transmission of light from a surface

  5. Refraction • Refraction: Bending of light as it enters/exits a substance; dependant on density changes.

  6. Scattering • Scatter: Light hits dust & particulates and bounces light in different directions • Results in fluorescence & different coloration

  7. Nacreous Clouds above the Troposphere • Tropospheric clouds at bottom; rare nacreous clouds above • Form at -85oC in lower stratosphere • 15-25 km high Image: Paul Newman NASA Goodard Space Flight Center

  8. Nacreous Clouds • Form of PSCs • (Polar Stratospheric Clouds) • Wave pattern shows wind patterns in stratosphere • AKA: Mother of pearl clouds Image: McMurdo Station, Antarctica

  9. Polar Stratospheric Clouds • Type 1 • Form at warmer temperatures (-78oC) • Sites of destruction of ozone in polar regions • Type 2 • Lower temps • Composed of ice crystals Click the picture for more images of Nacreous clouds

  10. Noctilucent Clouds • “Night-shining clouds” • Typical at latitudes 50-650 Click the picture for more images of Noctilucent Clouds

  11. Noctilucent Clouds • Source? • Volcanic dust • Meteoric dust?

  12. Rocket Trails & Others • Water droplets act as prisms to produce: • Coronas • Fogbow • Specter Chasing Click here to view the images

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