The sky appears orange right now primarily due to the scattering of sunlight through the atmosphere when the sun is low on the horizon or due to the presence of particulates such as dust, pollution, or smoke in the air. When sunlight passes through a thicker layer of the atmosphere, blue and violet light (short wavelengths) get scattered out before reaching the eyes, leaving the longer wavelengths like red, orange, and yellow visible, making the sky appear orange. This effect is often intensified by atmospheric conditions like clouds, storms, or wildfires which add particles that scatter light differently, creating this orange hue in the sky. Specific reasons for an orange sky at a given time can include:
- The sun being near the horizon (sunrise or sunset), increasing the distance sunlight travels in the atmosphere and thus more scattering of blue light.
- Nearby wildfires or dust storms injecting smoke or dust into the air, which scatters sunlight and results in an orange sky.
- Overcast or stormy weather conditions that affect the scattering of light.
- Pollution can also contribute to more vivid orange tones during sunrise and sunset.
In summary, the orange sky is a result of sunlight traveling through more atmosphere or being filtered and scattered by particles like smoke, dust, or clouds, allowing mainly the longer orange and red wavelengths to be seen.
