Atmospheric optics studies how light is redirected, scattered and absorbed by an atmosphere. Spatial changes of refractive index bend paths, suspended particles produce scattering of light, and moving variations of refractive index distort a distant source's wavefront.
The distinction is experimentally useful. A small source viewed through rising warm air changes shape and position even without an absorbing obstacle, while a cloudy beam path can lose direct radiant power through scattering of light. An optical telescope must therefore contend with both atmospheric transmission and changing optical aberrations; a large aperture alone does not guarantee a sharp image.
Atmospheric optics is the study of how light interacts with the Earth's atmosphere, leading to various optical phenomena. This field encompasses the understanding of how atmospheric conditions—such as the presence of particles, water vapor, and gases—affect the propagation and perception of light. Some key phenomena studied in atmospheric optics include: 1. **Refraction**: The bending of light rays as they pass through layers of air with different temperatures and densities, leading to phenomena like superior and inferior mirages.
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