Rainbows, Red Sunsets and Rocket Science Revisited | The von Kármán Lecture Series: 2009
What do patterns of light from the sky reveal about particles in the air? Atmospheric particles -- aerosols, cloud droplets, ice crystals -- come in many sizes and shapes, and their interaction with sunlight affects Earth’s climate and gives rise to many spectacular atmospheric optical displays. From blue skies, red sunsets and green flashes to rainbows, glories, arcs and halos, these effects are not only beautiful to behold but give us clues to the nature of the airborne particles that cause them. This talk will look at some fundamental principles of atmospheric optics -- the scattering of sunlight by particles floating in the air -- to explain how several of these wonderful visual displays are formed. Satellite instruments such as JPL’s Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer, which has been orbiting Earth since 1999, are able to use these principles to distinguish different particle types, such as smoke and dust. Speaker: Dr. David J. Diner Principal Investigator, Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer Jet Propulsion Laboratory Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech Source: www.nasa.gov The von Kármán Lecture Series General Information The Theodore von Kármán Lecture Series, named after JPL's founder, and presented by JPL's Office of Communication and Education, brings the excitement of the space program's missions, instruments and other technologies to both JPL employees and the local community. Lectures take place twice per month, on consecutive Thursdays and Fridays. The Thursday lectures take place in JPL's Theodore von Kármán Auditorium and are streamed live via Ustream, and Friday lectures take place at Pasadena City College's Vosloh Forum. Both start at 7:00 PM. Admission and parking are free for all lectures, no reservations are required, and seating is limited. Support the Channel vie BOOK DEPOSITARY Shopping Book Depository: Millions of books with free delivery worldwide www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=Booklibrary FOLLOW THE CHANNEL ON TWITTER twitter.com/FREESPACELIVE Enjoy, Share, Like and Subscribe:)
