The science behind a sunset in Manitoba

July 20, 2024

Catching a glimpse of a beautiful sunrise or sunset is one of nature’s great wonders.

The different shades of orange, red and pink motivate people to travel all over the world to experience a special and impressive sight.

Hike Spirit Sands in Spruce Woods Provincial Park. (Source: Travel Manitoba)

But what makes sunrises and sunsets so beautiful to watch and why are some more impressive than others?

According to Natalie Hasell, warning preparedness meteorologist at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), this has to do with scattering and light absorption.

She explained that the light from the sun is made up of many wavelengths, with the short wavelengths in the visible blue/indigo light spectrum and the longer wavelengths in the visible spectrum of orange and red.

Sunset at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. (Source: Jillian Recksiedler)

During the day, when the sun is directly above us, the sky is blue due to Rayleigh scattering, which causes shorter wavelengths to scatter.

However, at sunrise and sunset, the sun is at a more oblique angle. This means the light has to pass through more of the atmosphere, scattering the blue and leaving a greater proportion of the longer wavelengths. This lights up the sky in shades of orange, red and pink.

“In summary, light has to travel a longer distance through our atmosphere at sunrise and sunset than in the middle of the day, and the scattering of shorter wavelengths is more complete,” Hasell explained.

“As a result, we lose the blues and greens and are left with only yellows, oranges and reds.”

Clear Lake, Riding Mountain National Park. (Source: Travel Manitoba)

The reason some sunrises and sunsets are more spectacular than others is because larger particles, including dust, pollen, smoke, water vapor, and water droplets, are closer to the wavelength of radiation. The interaction of light with these particles is called Mie scattering, and tends to have a greater impact at longer wavelengths.

According to Hasell, this scenario can result in more light being blocked or scattered, making the sunrise or sunset less exciting to watch.

“A lot of it has to do with these different types of scattering and then it depends on the location or the angle of where things are in the atmosphere, like clouds, dust, pollen or whatever,” she said.

A sunset in East Selkirk. (Source: Jessica McGill)

Tips for capturing a sunset

If you want to experience a beautiful sunrise or sunset, Jillian Recksiedler, Senior Content Marketing Specialist at Travel Manitoba, recommends leaving the city and heading to the west of the province.

“You have to leave places that block the view of the horizon,” she said.

“That’s why you need large, open spaces to really enjoy the beauty of the horizon and the sunset on the prairie.

Cross the lake. (Source: Gordon Ross)

Hasell said persistence is key.

“It’s a coincidence. It will be exactly where you are at that time,” she said.

“I’m sorry to be so vague, but I would suggest keeping trying.”

Hasell also reminds Manitoba residents to be cautious at sunrise or sunset and to be aware that looking directly at the sun carries risks. She recommends using some type of protection to avoid potential retinal damage.

A sunset in Winkler. (Source: Vern Thiessen)

The beauty of sunsets in Manitoba

People travel all over the world to experience the world-famous sunsets of Greece, Kenya and India, but Recksiedler says you can find something just as spectacular in Manitoba.

She said what makes prairie sunsets so special is our sky.

“We’re famous for our skies,” she said. “People often think the prairie is boring and flat, but they haven’t seen our sunsets or our sunrises, and certainly not the colors on a midsummer day.”

A sunset at Clear Lake. (Source: Cooper Hanson)