After more than a week of a gray world because of the fog, Drenthe was treated to a completely different view this morning. Those who woke up in time could enjoy beautiful purple skies before the sunrise.
This phenomenon is caused by the way sunlight travels through the atmosphere. When the sun is low on the horizon, such as during sunrise, the light has to travel a longer path through the atmosphere. Here, the shorter wavelengths of blue and green light are scattered by dust particles, water vapor, or air molecules, causing the longer wavelengths, such as red and orange, to dominate. Sometimes that mixes with blue, giving those striking purple hues.
The humid air of the past few days may also play a role. Mist and fine water droplets reflect sunlight extra strongly, making the colors appear more intense. The result? A sky that seems to glow in beautiful shades of purple and pink!
View photos from various places in the province here: