What Makes A Beautiful Sunset?

There are only a few more weeks left for us to enjoy the gorgeous sunsets over the Florida Bay. Last evening was another pretty one and I got into a conversation with another about how spectacular the sunset a few days prior had been. "Well you know what makes the difference, don't you? Pollution," she said.

Pollution? I thought for a moment and then responded. "I remember the spectacular sunsets when we stayed on the island of Moorea in French Polynesia." I went on to describe a few thinking that it would discredit the pollution idea.

No way. "There's pollution there too in all the fires they set to do their cooking," she answered. I gave up.

Ah, but there's always the internet to explore and explore I did. I found the NOAA site and an article on what makes a beautiful sunset. Pollution has nothing to do with it. As a matter of fact shortly into the article it dispelled the idea saying that if pollution had anything to do with it, Los Angeles, New York City and a few other places they named would be know world wide for their sunsets.

So, what makes it so beautiful? The small air molecules and the wavelength of the light that is more angled as the sun begins to set. The spectrum of colors which range from violet to red (remember all those prism lessons in science?) in our sunlight play on the small air molecules creating our blue skies in the daytime and our colorful sunrises and sunsets at daybreak and evening. Larger particles of pollution whether man made or from natural causes (ie. volcanoes, fires) do not scatter the colors like a clear sky does. It's all in the very interesting article, The Colors of Sunset and Twilight, on the NOAA site. Take a few minutes to read it.

One interesting fact I learned that really doesn't have to do with a sunset is that were our eyes not so sensitive to the color blue our sky would actually appear violet. Cool!

Wordless Wednesday

Post Sunset

twi·light the time just after sunset when the light is half faded but the world is not yet totally dark.

My picture files are full of sunsets. They are fascinating. Beautiful. Stunning. So many more adjectives apply but one evening. I sat by the water's edge and just enjoyed the peace. While the sunset was long over, there was still a magnificent sky reflected in the water. Even when the lights started coming on, there was a a lot of color left on God's palette.

I thought I would share twilight with you.

Through My Lens - Anatomy of a Sunset

Are Florida Sunsets Better?

In our travels, we have seen some pretty spectacular sunsets but there's something about the sunsets in Florida that make you want to be sure you don't miss a one.

Is it the way it's reflected on the water? When you are on the shore, the sky is not the only thing changing color. The water reflects the colors and softens them or makes them sparkle depending upon the weather, the angle of the sun and the texture of the water's surface. 

Is it in the infinite variety of clouds that dot the sky? The clouds form colored patterns in the sky as the sun sets and they move across. Sometimes the best sunsets are when there is a little more cloud activity and the sun has already dipped below the horizon. There are times when the rays reach the clouds with a post sunset splash of color that lights everything up overhead as if the clouds were a canvas for a great painting.

And then there's always the suspense. Will there be a green flash? While the green flash is usually not a flash but rather a slash of green color just as the last of the sun disappears, it is always a fascination.

In our condo complex, as with many other areas in Florida, people gather to watch the sunset, enjoy the glorious colors and come together to end the end the day. It's a great tradition. 

Wordless Wednesday

The Wonder of a Sunset

If you've followed this blog for long, you'll see that I love sunsets. I'm a sucker for them and can't resist taking several pictures when it's truly spectacular. TripAdvisor has come up with a list of places where you can see some spectacular sunsets starting with Mallory Square in Key West, FL.

Key West knows how to celebrate a sunset and it's done every night. The square fills with people, most just observers and some entertainers. There are jugglers, singers, magicians, musicians, and dancers to name a few. The entertainment stops though as soon as the sun begins its dip into the ocean. The sunset receives a round of applause and the fun continues.

A few of the places mentioned by TripAdvisor are unusual like going to the top of a building in New York City to watch the sun set. I'm more a fan of watching it away from a city but I expect you could get some terrific silhouettes of the buildings with just the right conditions.

Actually, I can enjoy a sunset most anywhere, even sitting on my front door step and watching it light up the sky behind the trees down the street. A few well placed clouds, a great angle of the sun's rays, just the right atmospheric conditions and the sky becomes a canvas of glorious color. God has quite a palette.

Wordless Wednesday

Have You Seen The Green Flash?

Sunsets are a beautiful ending to the day when the sky isn't overcast and rainy. The colors can be absolutely spectacular and no two sunsets are ever alike. Sometimes the most dramatic part of the sunset happens after the sun has actually gone below the horizon. Pinks, oranges, yellows light up the clouds and then they turn to soft shades of purples and blues. We've always enjoyed watching the sun set and especially when  we spend time in the Florida Keys. People there take the time to sit and watch the glorious changes that take place.

The most anticipated event however when watching the sun set over the water is the green flash. For a long time I thought it was a myth. A way for my husband and sons to trick me into believing that there was such a thing. And then I saw it!

No green flash here.

We were on our way back to our cruise ship from a diving excursion and the sun was setting. (Yup, the ship was waiting for our return because it was one of their excursions.) As we cruised along toward the ship the sun took its final dip and I saw a spot of green. Now, we'd been watching it for a time so I figured that it was just my eyes playing tricks since I'd been staring at the sun.

I finally did some research and yes, there is a phenomena called the green flash. You have to have an unobstructed view of the sunset to see it and no clouds on the horizon. It all has to do with how the light is refracted through the earth's atmosphere and the colors that are blocked as the sun nears the horizon. You can read about the green flash at Universe Today. They have some great pictures. I haven't been able to capture it yet but not for lack of trying.

Bottom line: Yes, the green flash exists! It's one more dynamic to all those beautiful sunsets.