Book 7, Question 103 · Video
Why Does the Sky Look Redder After Wildfires or Dust?
The sky looks redder after wildfires or dust storms because extra tiny particles in the air change the light. Smoke and dust scatter and filter sunlight, taking out blues and green
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What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why does the sky look redder after wildfires or dust?
The Big Idea
The sky looks redder after wildfires or dust storms because extra tiny particles in the air change the light. Smoke and dust scatter and filter sunlight, taking out blues and greens and letting the reds and oranges through. Particles remix the palette!
Particles Fill the Air
Step one: particles fill the air. Wildfires send tiny bits of smoke into the sky, and dust storms lift tiny grains of soil. Winds can carry them for hundreds of kilometers.
Light Gets Filtered
Step two: the light gets filtered. These particles scatter and absorb sunlight, so blues and greens are weakened much more than reds. It is like looking through orange sunglasses.
A Red Sun and Sky
Step three: the sky looks red. The Sun can look like a dim orange or red disk, and the daytime sky may look hazy and brownish. Sunsets can be extra red!
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look at a smoky sky! A wildfire sends smoke high into the air. The smoke makes tiny floating particles. They filter the sunlight. The sky turns orange and red.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Smoke can travel thousands of kilometers from the fire, so the sky can be red even far away. Dust from deserts can also tint the sky. Smoky air can hurt lungs, especially for kids, older people, and people with asthma. On smoky days, stay inside with windows closed, and ask a grown-up to check the air quality.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Let's check the air. If the sky looks odd, ask a grown-up to check the air quality in a weather app. What number or color does it show? Do you need to stay inside? Don't stare at the red Sun, and keep away from fires.
Outro
Tiny floating particles can turn the whole sky red. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!