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October 6, 2011

Sunset Over Mesa Lab

Clouds at sunset, as seen from the National Center for Atmospheric Research's (NCAR) Mesa Laboratory in Boulder, Colo. Sunsets sometimes look reddish-orange because particles in the air absorb the shorter wavelengths of light--violet, blue and green. Sunrises and sunsets are often brightly colored because sunlight is scattered as it passes through a greater volume of atmosphere.

NCAR is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other federal agencies, providing facilities and support for a wide range of studies in the atmospheric and related sciences. NCAR is managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), a nonprofit consortium of universities that grants Ph.D.s in fields relating to atmospheric science. UCAR's primary function is managing NCAR. To learn more, visit the NCAR website, Here.

Credit: ©University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

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