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**Three types of atmospheric scattering** — classified by particle size relative to wavelength. - **Rayleigh scattering** — particles ≪ λ (air molecules). **Inverse-λ⁴** dependence — affects **shorter wavelengths** most. **Why the sky is blue.** - **Mie scattering** — particles ≈ λ (dust, smoke, pollen, aerosols). Influences **longer wavelengths / all visible**. Creates hazy skies. - **Non-selective scattering** — particles ≫ λ (cloud droplets, ice). Affects **all wavelengths equally** → **clouds appear white** because blue, green, and red are all scattered in the same proportion.

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