Exploring Nature: Winter Sunsets
Illustrations by Erica Sloniker, Marketing and Visual Communications Specialist
Welcome to Exploring Nature, an illustrated blog series that (re)discovers the natural world through art, science and observation.
Transcript
Winter Sunsets at Robert Y. Pratt Preserve
Friday 12-19-23
The days are dark this time of year, so thank goodness it’s peak sunset season! I observed a stunner today on my Whidbey Island hike.
Wanting to understand why sunsets are at their best in the winter, I found out a few things…
- Winter sun rays have a longer path through the atmosphere due to the low sun angle. More blue lights gets filtered out. More red and orange light makes it through. Sunsets are ablaze!
- Because the sun is lower on the horizon, the time it takes the sun to set is longer.
- Dryer air scatters less light helping our eyes see purer color.
- Clouds are more likely and reflect more light.
Now that the sun has set, there’s a chill in the air. Winter sunsets end early. Time to head out, find a cozy dinner spot, and settle in.
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