Strange question

[Richard D]

Since we are visual people . . .
I've been doing a lot of traveling lately, and one thing I've noticed, at least I think I've noticed is that it's been a really long time since I've seen "see forever bright blue skies".

Deserts, mountains, ocean, everywhere seems to have an omnipresent haze - at least in the northern hemisphere.

Anyone else notice this or have I just had a long string of poor photographic luck?

[Major Nikon]

1. It does exist, you just have to know where to look for it

In order to really know where to look for it, you have to understand not only what haze is, but why it is where it is and why it isn't where it isn't. Haze is simply particulate matter suspended in the air. And it only suspends in the air under limited conditions. Hop in my plane and within a few minutes I can show you "see forever bright blue skies" on most days by simply climbing above the haze layer. So assuming the haze isn't being produced by suspended moisture, there is a point of relatively low altitude by which haze doesn't exist to any large degree. That's one of the reasons why alpine views can be so spectacular. There's a couple of good reasons for this. One is that as you increase in altitude, the air becomes less dense and therefore can't support as much suspension of particulates. The other is because increased atmospheric circulation tends to clean the air of particulate matter. But mountains aren't the only way to increase atmospheric circulation. Convective air currents are another excellent way this gets done. When a really big thunderstorm passes through an area fairly quickly and then clears immediately afterward, grab your camera because you're going to get a limited window of opportunity for "see forever bright blue skies." Thanks to reasonably accurate modern forecast methods, it's not too difficult to be at the right place at just the right time, and that's what photography is all about.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. It's nice and clear up here,

but it's colder than a well-digger's ass, as they say.

[alfredo]

3. Cataracts?

[Richard D]

5. No catararacts

Pretty good vision really.
I just wonder if it's some phenomenon of global warming that hasn't been mentioned or noticed much yet.
I'm at the dead sea now and I'd expect clear air here, but the haze is all over every part of Israel I've been to. Was in Arizona desert a few weeks ago, same haze. Grand canyon? Hazy. Just seems strange to me and I don't recall seeing it this way before.

Well, there are military planes flying over every few minutes, quite low. No contrails, but maybe that's the reason.

[Richard D]

6. Whew . . . Not crazy or going blind

Seems to be called "Blue Haze" (as opposed to purple rain).
A somewhat natural occurrence over forests and jungles. but made worse worldwide by chemical pollution.

[Celebration]

7. all that crap from China

makes its way here. Plus it does have a lot to do with the increase in air traffic in the past couple of decades. Remember how everyone commented on the blue skies when planes were grounded after Sept. 11?

[alfredo]

9. Contrails have increased cloud cover.

[alfredo]

8. Coal fired power plants add a lot of haze, so do cars.

There is also a phenomenon called inversion. Cold air traps the warmer, polluted air below it. Denver used to have a permanent brown haze. I haven't been there for a few decades, it could still be there.

[Celebration]

4. no worries

Just process it through the pollution/chemtrail remover on your photo software! :silly:

Seriously, I see true blue skies here in the flyover zone maybe once every two to three weeks.