“The sunsets in Africa are simply magnificent”
Sunsets and sunrises have always had an universal allure, captivating people with their vibrant hues and beauty. It either fills us with anticipation and prospect for the day to come, or allows us a moment to reflect on the gratitude for the day that has been. This “golden hour”, as we call it, is part of the magic everyone experiences when on safari.
But what is the science behind these stunning displays, especially in the African Lowveld? This is due, in part, to the large amount of dust in the atmosphere which helps to refract light from the sun and paint the sky in brilliant oranges, reds and yellows.
A Lesson in Colour
Without getting too technical, light that looks white to our eyes is actually made up of many different colours, and each colour can be thought of as a light wave of a different wavelength. Within the small range of wavelengths (or colours) that is visible to the human eye, the shorter waves are blue and the longer ones are red, as illustrated in the image below.
When light travels from the sun, the different wavelengths move through empty space. When they reach Earth’s atmosphere, the wavelengths then interact with different particles in the air (like dust, water droplets, or ice crystals) as well as with tiny gas molecules (mostly oxygen and nitrogen) that make up the air itself. The light waves bounce off these particles in a phenomenon called scattering.
Often the presence of clouds can accentuate a sunrise or sunset. But it depends on the type of clouds present… the best sunsets are seen in skies with high and mid-level clouds (like altocumulus and cirrus clouds) that allow the light to travel further to reach them before refracting the light.
Science of Scattering
How light waves get scattered depends strongly on the size of the particle compared with the wavelength of the light.
The tiny gas molecules that make up the Earth’s atmosphere scatter the short-wavelength light of blues and violets in all directions. Because the human eye can’t see violet very well, this is why the sky appears blue during the day. When the sunlight travels a longer path through the atmosphere, the blue light has been mostly removed, leaving the longer-wavelength light of reds and yellows.
At sunrise and sunset, when the sunlight travels a long path through the atmosphere to reach our eyes, the blue light has been mostly removed, leaving mostly red and yellow light remaining.
“Because the sun is low on the horizon, sunlight passes through more air at sunset and sunrise than during the day when the sun is higher in the sky. More atmosphere means more molecules to scatter the violet and blue light away from your eyes. If the path is long enough, all of the blue and violet light scatters out of your line of sight. The other colours continue on their way to your eyes. This is why sunsets are often yellow, orange, and red.” – Steven Ackerman professor of meteorology at UW–Madison.
Nothing better than a radiant sunset to frame a perfect silhouette.
Africa’s Golden Hour
In the African Lowveld, sunsets are particularly spectacular due to our region’s unique atmospheric conditions. The Lowveld is characterised by vast, open landscapes with minimal pollution, allowing for clearer skies and more intense colours.
The presence of dust and small particulate matter, especially during the dry winter months, enhances the scattering effect. These particles act as a canvas, reflecting and refracting the sunlight in various directions, amplifying the rich palette of colours.
During the winter, dry months, the sunsets in the African Lowveld become even more mesmerising. The lack of moisture in the air reduces the overall scattering of light, leading to more defined and intense colors. The dry, dusty air is typically more stable and free from the humidity that can diffuse and dilute the sun’s hues.
Understanding the science behind the golden hour only adds to the appreciation of nature’s daily spectacle, allowing us to pause and marvel at the many intricate and beautiful processes at play.
Considering previous blogs about the structural adaptations of animal eyes as well as the sentient around differing species eyesight, I can only wonder what the visual experience must like for other animals and creatures during golden hour…
Absolutely the sunrises and sunsets are the most spectacular in sub-Saharan Africa. Each day yields a surprise in coloration, none to be repeated.
Thanks Denise!
I’ve never considered how sunsets and sunrises appear to other animals, but now I’m curious too.
Thanks Chelsea!
Your topic Kate is very interesting, reading all you wrote is a lot to take in. But the sunsets and sunrises in Africa is the best, no matter where you are. It is mesmerizing to watch and each day and nights sunrise and sunsets are unique.
Thanks Valmai!
Amazing photos of sunsets at Londolozi, Kate.
And a really excellent blog on the theory of the how and why of sunsets, really brilliantly explained.
Thanks Christa!
Thank you Kate for the beautiful pictures of the sunsets and sunrise. Lets hope the sun keeps shining!! Haha
Thanks William!