Abstract
We have seen that the atoms and molecules of air absorb incident radiation at certain wavelengths. The energy absorbed is transformed into heat (and radiated by the atmosphere at other wavelengths, in the infrared). But air can also diffuse light, without absorbing it, by redistributing the incident energy in all directions. This is ‘Rayleigh scattering’ by air molecules. It has a double effect which has been known, at least qualitatively, since the time of Leonardo da Vinci — an effect that manifests itself in all the spectral windows, but particularly in the visible region.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1970 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Pecker, JC. (1970). Atmospheric Diffusion: Extinction and the Blue of The Sky. In: Space Observatories. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 21. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-3320-6_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-3320-6_3
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-3322-0
Online ISBN: 978-94-010-3320-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive