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Scientific reasons behind that eerie yellow sky (that have nothing to do with the apocalypse)
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You glance outside on a perfectly normal afternoon and notice the sky is glowing an eerie yellow—but why? A yellow sky can definitely look ominous, but don't worry, there's a perfectly logical explanation for that unusual yellowish tint. In this article, we'll explain exactly what's happening when it looks yellow outside and discuss all the possible scenarios that can create this effect in our sky.
Things You Should Know
- The most common cause of a yellow sky is storm clouds. The clouds scatter the blue light coming from the sun, and this makes the light look yellow to us.
- Dust storms, pollen, and smoke in the atmosphere can also cause it to look yellow outside for the same reason: they scatter the blue light in the sky.
- A yellow sky doesn't necessarily mean a tornado or hurricane is on the way. Any kind of storm cloud can cause the sky to look yellowish (or even greenish).
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References
- ↑ https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/thunderstorms/faq/
- ↑ https://lettersandscience.net/yellow-clouds-danger/
- ↑ https://news.wisc.edu/curiosities-what-determines-the-colors-of-the-sky-at-sunrise-and-sunset/
- ↑ https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/why-does-the-sky-change-colour-on-the-brink-of-a-hurricane/
- ↑ https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/31/metro/wall-pollen-turned-sky-yellowish-green-after-cold-front-moved/
- ↑ https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/special-reports/outdoors/2020/09/10/ventura-county-sky-california-wildfires-smoke-keep-temperatures-cooler-nws/3459203001/
- ↑ https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/yes-skies-sometimes-really-turn-green-before-tornadoes
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