Spectral analysis of red scattered sunlight at sunrise

Abstract

We analyze and fit visible spectra of a red horizon at sunrise. The shape of the spectra consist of a blue continuum followed by a red bump. The reddest spectra are well fitted by the product of a spectrum of extinguished sunlight (Rayleigh extinction + ozone absorption) and 1/lambda^4. The former is essentially the radiation field in the outer atmosphere, at the scattering volume location; the latter corresponds to Rayleigh scattering by the gas. Moving to higher altitudes, a second component, corresponding to the spectrum of a blue sky, must be added. The spectra we have obtained are similar to spectra of red nebulae, suggesting there may be other explanations than an emission process to the red color of some nebulae.