Three types of atmospheric scattering?
essential emr

Classified by particle size relative to wavelength:

  • šŸŸ¦ Rayleigh ā€” particles ā‰Ŗ Ī»
    • Source: air molecules (Nā‚‚, Oā‚‚)
    • Affects: short wavelengths most (1/Ī»ā“ dependence)
    • Result: blue sky at noon, red at sunset
  • šŸŒ«ļø Mie ā€” particles ā‰ˆ Ī»
    • Source: dust, smoke, aerosols, pollen
    • Affects: longer wavelengths and all of visible
    • Result: hazy skies
  • ā˜ļø Non-selective ā€” particles ā‰« Ī»
    • Source: water droplets, ice crystals
    • Affects: all wavelengths equally
    • Result: white clouds (B + G + R scattered equally ā†’ white)
šŸ’”

Rayleigh ā†’ blue sky (short wins). Mie ā†’ haze (particles match wavelength). Non-selective ā†’ white clouds (big droplets scatter ALL colors equally = white).

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