Why is the sky blue? [was: radon...]

[Guest guest]

Why does the sky appear to be blue? It's certainly not because of ozone in

the atmosphere. The varied appearance of our sky can be attributed to a

combination of Rayleigh and Mie scattering, which is nicely summarized in

this site from Georgia State University (and many others). see:

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/atmos/blusky.html

This is also something taught to grade school kids. I remember helping my

son's class with the milk in water experiment not too long ago!

See: <http://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/blue_sky.html>

And: <http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/wxwise/bluesky.html>

RE: the appearance of the Blue Ridge Mountains - yes! That is an effect

caused by atmospheric chemistry.

RE: the TIFM ( " functional medicine " ??) -- consider the source. Their

statement about the remarkable benefits of " medical grade ozone " is just

plain wrong.

Wane

<><><><><><><><><><><>

Wane A. Baker, P.E., CIH

Director, Air Quality Services

" Bad air gets you down "

MICHAELS ENGINEERING INC.

811 Monitor Street, Suite 100

PO Box 2377

La Crosse, Wisconsin 54602

Phone , ext. 484

Cell

Fax

mailto:wab@...

On the web at: http://www.michaelsengineering.com

" To love what you do and feel that it matters - how could anything be more

fun? "

- Graham

Gee Carl,

I'm not sure what you wishing to prove by this delving into our past

conversations.

While I've recently learned quite a lot from Jim White's good presentations

and those of and others I can now relate and accept their cautions.

Yes I today admit I was somewhat wrong about my lack of appreciation of

updrafts... molecular mixing... etc... I do admit I was fogged by an

oversimplification of the theory of gases... And to all those who came to

my assistance in this venture I say " Thank You "

--<snip>-------------

You make a point out of my citing several authorities as attributing the

blueness in the sky to ozone content!! You do not say why!! Is this an

attempt to ridicule??

Now as far as the ozone being a cause of the sky's blueness here's something

from the website of the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign.

" As tiny hydrocarbon particles released by vegetation chemically react with

ozone molecules, they produce particles that selectively scatter

<http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/wwhlpr/scattering.rxml?hret=/guides/mtr/o

pt/air/blue.rxml> blue light, giving the mountains their blue appearance.

And from the website of the University of California at Riverside:

" Clouds and dust haze appear white because they consist of particles larger

than the wavelengths of light, which scatter all wavelengths equally (Mie

scattering). But sometimes there might be other particles in the air that

are much smaller. Some mountainous regions are famous for their blue haze.

Aerosols of terpenes from the vegetation react with ozone in the atmosphere

to form small particles about 200 nm across, and these particles scatter the

blue light. A forest fire or volcanic eruption may occasionally fill the

atmosphere with fine particles of 500-800 nm across, being the right size to

scatter red light. This gives the opposite to the usual Tyndall effect, and

may cause the moon to have a blue tinge since the red light has been

scattered out. This is a very rare phenomenon--occurring literally once in

a blue moon.

and from the website of the Texas Institute of Functional Medicines:

" Ozone occurs naturally around crashing surf, white water rapids, and

lightning storms. At ground level there is more oxygen than ozone, and as we

rise up in our atmosphere the oxygen decreases and the ozone increases -

hence, the beautiful blue sky we enjoy when we gaze up from planet Earth. It

is the ozone that makes it blue. Ozone is a chemical compound consisting of

three oxygen atoms, an energetic form of normal atmospheric oxygen. It is

made fresh in our clinic from medical grade oxygen passed through an

elaborate apparatus called a cold corona arc resulting in medical grade

ozone. Oxygen/ozone therapy is a term that describes a number of different

practices in which oxygen and ozone are administered via gas or water to

kill disease microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungus, and stealth

organisms. Therefore, it improves cellular function and promotes the healing

of damaged tissues. "

Carl, I was willing to discuss ozone with anyone.. I tried to discuss it

with you.. You declined.. I'm sorry. I thought we could stimulate a

learning experience.

Respectfully,

Ken