2014 Investigating Atmospheric Pollution Portland, Oregon USA.

2014: View of the sky and sun from Portland, Oregon USA.

This photo essay is an attempt to illustrate aerosol pollution and the condition of our air, and atmosphere. Those outdoor 'Klodachrome colors' of yesteryear are a relic of the past in more ways than one.

Two photos are of the sky and sun:

An afternoon view looking west.

Another afternoon view looking west.

Reflections on water of the sky and sun:

In this view of a small barrel of rainwater, the sun and every reflective surface has a washed out and a murky white look to it. Note, next to the sun, the color spectrum is weighted towards violet.

 A puddle of fresh rainwater on an asphalt playground at a school yard. The water is clear and shallow but the sun is a washed out white glare spot. Note, next to the sun, the color spectrum is weighted towards violet. Does this indicate the composition of the atmosphere?

For comparison photos of sun glare in the American West and Southwest:

A turtle swimming on the surface of a pond in a City maintained public park in Santa Barbara, California, 2012.

Afternoon sun looking west in Santa Barbara, California, 2010.

And snow melt puddle in Flagstaff, Arizona, 2013.

Particulate laden sky, Sunrise, Portland, Oregon, 2014.

Downtown Portland, Oregon, 2014.

Downtown Portland, Oregon, 2014.

Street scene, setting sun, Portland, Oregon, 2014.

Setting sun over asphalt parking lot, Portland, Oregon, 2014.

Aviation jet trails, mostly commercial, Portland, OR, 2014.

Particulate laden sky and aviation jet trails, mostly commercial, Portland, OR, 2014.

Atmospheric moisture and particulate, Portland, OR, 2014

Telephoto lenses of hundreds of mm in focal length often make distant objects appear large. These photos were taken with a wide angle lens, with focal length of 6.30 - 31.5 mm.

Optical refraction and distortion from atmospheric pollution causes the sun to appear larger than it really is. Any shifts in the reflected color spectrum may hint at just whats up there. Because the sun no longer appears golden or yellow, and the sky is seldom a deep "sky" blue.

Could this sun size anomaly also affect our climate and weather patterns?

This photo essayist thinks it's worth considering.

For more photos go to: Atmosphere West USA

Photos by DT Lange: (C) 2014