What causes haze (visibility reduction)?
Haze is caused when sunlight encounters tiny pollution particles in the air. Some light is absorbed by particles while other light is scattered away before it reaches an observer. On days when there are more pollutants in that air, light is absorbed and scattered more. When this happens, visibility is reduced as well as the clarity and color of what we see. Some types of particles such as sulfates scatter more light, particularly during humid conditions. Haze is caused from a variety of natural sources such as wind-blown dust or soot from wild fires. Man-made sources include cars, electric utility plants, and factories. Where can I go to learn more about pollution? The Weather Underground has compiled a list of websites where you can go to learn more about air pollution. If you know of any that you think we should add, let us know!
