Chapter 04 of 5
Mie Scattering & Volcanic Hues
Why clouds stay white and rare suns turn blue.
- Scale Shift
Beyond the Molecules
While Rayleigh scattering involves tiny gas molecules, Mie scattering occurs when particles are roughly the size of light's wavelength.
- The Mechanism
Non-Selective Scattering
Mie scattering doesn't play favorites with color. It scatters all visible wavelengths almost equally.
- Cloud Physics
The Secret of White Clouds
Water droplets in clouds are large enough to trigger Mie scattering. By reflecting all colors at once, they appear brilliant white.
17 more cards in this chapter
Could you answer this?
What is the primary reason that clouds appear white to the human eye?
🌌 The Sky’s Blue Deception
- 01Debunking the Reflection MythWhy the ocean isn't painting the sky blue.
- 02The Rayleigh MechanismHow gas molecules scatter the short-wave blues.
- 03The Sunset ShiftWhy the blue disappears as the sun goes down.
- 04Mie Scattering & Volcanic HuesWhy clouds stay white and rare suns turn blue.
- 05The Violet ParadoxWhy we see blue when violet scatters more.