As well as a primary rainbow, a secondary bow can sometimes be seen higher in the sky, one that is reversed because of a double reflection of light in the rain drops.
A dark band may also form between the two bows, called the Alexander band (named after Alexander of Aphrodisias who first described it around AD 200), where all reflected light is directed away from the observer.
Other optical phenomena in the atmosphere include a halo that
sometimes forms around the sun, due to hexagonal ice crystals in thin cirrus clouds. (Sunlight, or moon light, is deflected towards the observer by the ice crystals, forming a ring around the sun.)
It is easy to take for granted the awesome wonder and beauty we see in Earth’s atmosphere, but it is only through a narrow range in the electromagnetic spectrum that the light we see gets to us through the atmosphere.
Other optical phenomena in the atmosphere include a halo that
It is easy to take for granted the awesome wonder and beauty we see in Earth’s atmosphere, but it is only through a narrow range in the electromagnetic spectrum that the light we see gets to us through the atmosphere.
The sun produces its strongest electromagnetic radiation in the ultra-
violet (UV) and visible light portion of the spectrum. In addition, the atmosphere lets most of the visible light (400–750 nm) through. This allows our world to be illuminated, but it filters out the higher frequency UV radiation that is just outside the visible spectrum. The radiation filtered out includes all the extremely harmful UV-C (100–280 nm) and most of the UV-B light (280–315 nm), excessive exposure to which causes sunburn and skin cancer.
The magnetosphere protects the earth from very high energy particles
(mainly electrons and protons) that come from the sun, and cosmic rays. These particles are captured by the magnetic field, and bounced back and forth between the polar regions, becoming visible as the awesome aurora light display in the polar regions (aurora boreali in the north, aurora australis in the south).
Our greatest natural protection from UV light is the body’s own sunscreen, a polymer called melanin, which we have in differing amounts. Melanin gives human skin its various shades. People who live at low latitudes (nearer the equator) tend to have more melanin, hence darker skin, as they need more protection from the sun’s rays. Those who live at high latitudes, where there is less sunlight, still need to produce enough vitamin D to keep bones and the immune system healthy—so northern Europeans historically have had less melanin and lighter shades of skin.
In the words of Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork”.
--The atmosphere is remarkably designed for sustaining the life of plants and animals, and us as human beings with protection from harmful radiation.
The magnetosphere protects the earth from very high energy particles
Our greatest natural protection from UV light is the body’s own sunscreen, a polymer called melanin, which we have in differing amounts. Melanin gives human skin its various shades. People who live at low latitudes (nearer the equator) tend to have more melanin, hence darker skin, as they need more protection from the sun’s rays. Those who live at high latitudes, where there is less sunlight, still need to produce enough vitamin D to keep bones and the immune system healthy—so northern Europeans historically have had less melanin and lighter shades of skin.
In the words of Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork”.
--The atmosphere is remarkably designed for sustaining the life of plants and animals, and us as human beings with protection from harmful radiation.
--We also live in a world adorned with beauty, including being able to see the stars at night.
--This is all done through God’s amazing design."
CMI