Captivating Sunrise from Portland, Oregon
March 06, 2020
Photographer: Dana Buhl
Summary Authors: Thom Peck; Jim Foster
This captivating sunrise was observed near Portland, Oregon on January 30, 2020. At eye level the Sun has already set, but at cloud level sunlight still lingers, tinging these wavy altocumulus clouds in shades of pink and purple. The increased path length of sunlight when the Sun is near or below the horizon is responsible for the reddening of the sky. However, if clouds or aerosols are absent, the twilight sky generally fails to take on the magnificent hues that capture our attention.