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Mie scattering
Mie scattering Scattering of light by particles whose size is similar to the wavelength of light. It occurs in interstellar space and in the Earth's atmosphere. For wavelengths much shorter than a given particle size, Mie scattering is a complex function of wavelength. Scattering drops to a minimum at a wavelength half the particle size, rises to a maximum when it is the same as the particle size, and then decays to zero towards longer wavelengths. Mie scattering can thus make objects appear either redder or bluer according to the size of the scattering particle. In the Earth's atmosphere there is usually a wide range of particle sizes, so that these colour effects are blurred into a nondescript grey. Very occasionally, atmospheric effects will combine so that the dust is mostly 900 nm in size and the minimum in scattering is at 450 nm. This is the wavelength of blue light that causes the phenomenon of the blue Moon (1). Mie scattering is named after the German physicist Gustav Mie (1868–1957).
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"Mie scattering." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Mie scattering." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-Miescattering.html "Mie scattering." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-Miescattering.html |
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Mie scattering
Mie scattering The scattering of electromagnetic radiation, mainly in a forward direction, by spherical particles. The theory was proposed by Gustav Mie in 1908. See also Rayleigh scattering.
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Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mie scattering." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mie scattering." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-Miescattering.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mie scattering." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-Miescattering.html |
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Mie scattering
Mie scattering Scattering of electromagnetic radiation, mainly in a forward direction, by spherical particles. The theory was proposed by G. Mie in 1908. See also RAYLEIGH SCATTERING.
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Cite this article
AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mie scattering." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mie scattering." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Miescattering.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mie scattering." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Miescattering.html |
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