Splendor of the Western Lights
|
Some parts of Canada including this one, on occasion display the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis created by collisions of gaseous particles in the Earth’s atmosphere with charged particles released from the sun’s atmosphere. Here, however the western lights often illuminate the prairie sky in spring, fall and summer at the end of day to the quiet satisfaction of residents—and to the amazement of visitors. When high in the sky, the sun usually appears white because all wavelengths of visible light reach a person’s eyes with nearly equal intensity. But when the sun appears to sink toward the horizon, the light enters the atmosphere at a much lower angle so passes through a thicker atmosphere before being seen. Air molecules scatter away the shorter wavelengths of light (violet and blue) and the only light which penetrates the atmosphere are the longer wavelengths of light (yellow, orange and red) which produce colorful sunsets like this one. When there is a high concentration of particles in the atmosphere that are slightly larger than air molecules (like dust, smoke and pollutants), shorter and intermediate wavelengths of light (violet, blue and yellow) are scattered so only the longer wavelengths (orange and red) reach the eyes, giving the sun an orange-red appearance. This spectacular scene is aided by the trillions of dust particles being churned up into the atmosphere by harvest operations which take place far below—further distorting the light. If the reader looks carefully, some of the combines and other farm equipment can be seen at work, disturbing the tiny grain and dust particles. This was the scene north of Provost taken from a high hill. ©Provost News Photo.
Photo in September 26 edition of The Provost News.
Want to Subscribe to The Provost News? Click here. |
|
Provost Woman Known as "Mrs. Volunteer" Honoured With Queen's Medal
For more of the story, see the print edition of The Provost News, Sept. 26, 2012.
Also in the September 26 print edition of The Provost News:
• Drilling Taking Place on Outskirts of Town
• Gibson Energy May Ship Up to 60,000 Barrels of Crude From Hub at West End of Provost M.D.
• More Donations Are Made to Establish New Football Team
Get more stories by subscribing to The Provost News? Click here.
|
