Crepuscular Rays Over Barreiro, Portugal
March 08, 2014
Photographer: Nuno Lopes; Nuno's Facebook site
Summary Author: Nuno Lopes; Jim Foster
This beautiful set of crepuscular rays streaming out from the western horizon was captured at sunset over Alburrica in Barreiro, Portugal, on December 28, 2013. Sunlight blocked by the cumulus mediocris turrets (in the far background) results in the darkened lanes while light that threads its way through gaps in the same clouds produces the bright rays. These sunlit streaks are more noticeable when dust or aerosols are present in large quantities in the atmosphere. See also tomorrow's Earth Science Picture of the Day.
Photo details: Camera Model: Canon EOS 550D; Lens: EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II; Focal Length: 40mm; Aperture: f/8.0; Exposure Time: 0.0016 s (1/640); ISO equiv: 200; Software: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4.4 (Windows).