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Sunrise and [[sunset]] are calculated from the leading and trailing edges of the Sun, and not the center; this slightly increases the duration of "[[daylight|day]]" relative to "[[night]]". The [[sunrise equation]], however, is based on the center of the [[sun]].
Sunrise and [[sunset]] are calculated from the leading and trailing edges of the Sun, and not the center; this slightly increases the duration of "[[daylight|day]]" relative to "[[night]]". The [[sunrise equation]], however, is based on the center of the [[sun]].


The timing of sunset with respect to [[longitudinal|longitude]] [[time]] varies with the time of year and the [[latitude]] of the viewer's location. The precise [[local time]] of sunset depends upon the viewer's precise [[longitude]] the time zone of the viewer's location. Small daily changes and noticeable semi-annual changes in timing of sunrise are driven by the [[axial tilt]] of Earth and the planet's movement in its annual orbit around the sun. Some apparent anomalies exist however. In the [[Northern Hemisphere]], the latest sunrise does not occur on the [[winter]] [[solstice]] around [[December 21]], but rather in early January. Likewise, the earliest sunrise does not fall on the [[summer]] solstice around [[June 21]], but occurs earlier in June in the Northern Hemisphere. As one travels farther from the equator, the times of sunrise and sunset change throughout the year. Even on the [[equator]], sunrise and sunset shift several minutes back and forth through the year, along with [[solar noon]]. These effects are plotted using an [[analemma]].
The timing of sunset with respect to [[longitudinal|longitude]] [[time]] varies with the time of year and the [[latitude]] of the viewer's location. The precise [[local time]] of sunset depends upon the viewer's precise [[longitude]] the time zone of the viewer's location. Small daily changes and noticeable semi-annual changes in timing of sunrise are driven by the [[axial tilt]] of Earth and the planet's movement in its annual orbit around the sun. Some apparent anomalies exist however. In the [[Northern Hemisphere]], the latest sunrise does not occur on the [[winter]] [[solstice]] around [[December 21]], but rather in early January (if you live further south than about New York). Likewise, the earliest sunrise does not fall on the [[summer]] solstice around [[June 21]], but occurs earlier in June in the Northern Hemisphere. As one travels farther from the equator, the times of sunrise and sunset change throughout the year. Even on the [[equator]], sunrise and sunset shift several minutes back and forth through the year, along with [[solar noon]]. These effects are plotted using an [[analemma]].


Due to Earth's axial tilt, whenever and wherever sunrise occurs, it is always in the northeast quadrant from the March equinox to the September equinox and in the southeast quadrant from the September equinox to the March equinox. Sunrises occur precisely due east on the March and September equinoxes for all viewers on Earth. The sunrise and sunset times for a 12 hr day and 12 hr night do not fall on the "equinox" (equal night), since the timing of sunrises and sunsets, and hence, the lengths of day and night vary with each viewer's particular latitude.
Due to Earth's axial tilt, whenever and wherever sunrise occurs, it is always in the northeast quadrant from the March equinox to the September equinox and in the southeast quadrant from the September equinox to the March equinox. Sunrises occur precisely due east on the March and September equinoxes for all viewers on Earth. The sunrise and sunset times for a 12 hr day and 12 hr night do not fall on the "equinox" (equal night), since the timing of sunrises and sunsets, and hence, the lengths of day and night vary with each viewer's particular latitude.

Revision as of 23:55, 30 November 2009

For other uses, see Sunrise (disambiguation).
Sunrise over the Bristol Channel, England
Sunrise over the Dead Sea seen from Masada, Israel

Sunrise is the instant at which the upper edge of the Sun appears above the horizon in the east. Sunrise should not be confused with dawn, which is the (variously defined) point at which the sky begins to lighten, some time before the sun itself appears, ending twilight. Because atmospheric refraction causes the sun to be seen while it is still below the horizon, both sunrise and sunset are, from one point of view, optical illusions. The sun also exhibits an optical illusion at sunrise similar to the moon illusion.

The apparent westward revolution of Sun around the earth after rising out of the horizon is due to the Earth's eastward rotation, a counter-clockwise revolution when viewed from above the North Pole. This illusion is so convincing that most cultures had mythologies and religions built around the geocentric model. This same effect can be seen with near-polar satellites as well.

Sunrise and sunset are calculated from the leading and trailing edges of the Sun, and not the center; this slightly increases the duration of "day" relative to "night". The sunrise equation, however, is based on the center of the sun.

The timing of sunset with respect to longitude time varies with the time of year and the latitude of the viewer's location. The precise local time of sunset depends upon the viewer's precise longitude the time zone of the viewer's location. Small daily changes and noticeable semi-annual changes in timing of sunrise are driven by the axial tilt of Earth and the planet's movement in its annual orbit around the sun. Some apparent anomalies exist however. In the Northern Hemisphere, the latest sunrise does not occur on the winter solstice around December 21, but rather in early January (if you live further south than about New York). Likewise, the earliest sunrise does not fall on the summer solstice around June 21, but occurs earlier in June in the Northern Hemisphere. As one travels farther from the equator, the times of sunrise and sunset change throughout the year. Even on the equator, sunrise and sunset shift several minutes back and forth through the year, along with solar noon. These effects are plotted using an analemma.

Due to Earth's axial tilt, whenever and wherever sunrise occurs, it is always in the northeast quadrant from the March equinox to the September equinox and in the southeast quadrant from the September equinox to the March equinox. Sunrises occur precisely due east on the March and September equinoxes for all viewers on Earth. The sunrise and sunset times for a 12 hr day and 12 hr night do not fall on the "equinox" (equal night), since the timing of sunrises and sunsets, and hence, the lengths of day and night vary with each viewer's particular latitude.

Colors

A sunrise with the typical orange colour in the sky (south beach of Jamaica).

The intense red and orange hues of the sky at sunrise and sunset are mainly caused by scattering of sunlight by dust particles, soot particles, other solid aerosols, and liquid aerosols in the Earth's atmosphere. These enhanced red and orange colors at sunrise and sunset are mathematically explained by the Mie theory or the discrete dipole approximation. When there are no particulates in the troposphere, such as after a big rain storm, then the remaining less intense reds are explained by Rayleigh Scattering of sunlight by air molecules. Sunrise colors are typically less brilliant and less intense than sunset colors, since there are generally fewer particles and aerosols in the morning air than in the evening air. Nighttime air is usually cooler and less windy, which allows dust and soot particles to settle out of the atmosphere, reducing the amount of Mie Scattering. The reduced Mie Scattering correspondingly reduces the amount of red and orange scattered light at sunrise. Sunrise color intensities can however exceed sunset's intensities when there are nighttime fires, volcanic eruptions or emissions, or dust storms to the east of the viewer. A number of eruptions in recent times, such as those of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 and Krakatoa in 1883, have been sufficiently large to produce remarkable sunsets and sunrises all over the world.

Sometimes just before sunrise or after sunset a green flash can be seen. [1] [2] [3]

See also

This is a False Sunrise, a very particular kind of Parhelion
  • Beautiful morning at the bank of Tava Reservoir, Satpura National Park, India
    Beautiful morning at the bank of Tava Reservoir, Satpura National Park, India
  • Sunrise as seen from Burnaby, British Columbia.
    Sunrise as seen from Burnaby, British Columbia.

References

  1. ^ Red Sunset, Green Flash
  2. ^ Selected Papers on Scattering in the Atmosphere, edited by Craig Bohren ~SPIE Optical Engineering Press, Bellingham, WA, 1989
  3. ^ Science Made Simple
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