The vibrant colors of sunrise and sunset are created when sunlight travels through a much longer path of atmosphere than during midday. This phenomenon is called atmospheric scattering. At these times, light must travel through up to 40 times more atmosphere to reach our eyes.
During this extended journey:
- Blue light gets scattered away almost completely
- Red and orange wavelengths better penetrate the atmosphere
- Dust, pollution, and water vapor enhance the effect
This is why we see predominantly warm colors during these times. The effect is often more dramatic when there are high-altitude clouds to reflect and scatter these colors, creating spectacular displays.