Every sunrise or sunset is an amazing sight to see.
And, for almost an entire week recently, we witnessed some extra spectacular ones over SoCal.
Recently, a cut-off low pressure system that lingered off the coast spun clouds over SoCal day after day for an entire week.
Anyone awake early enough to see the sunrise saw vibrant colors in the sky.
The colors we see at sunrise and sunset are more prominent because the sun is closer to the horizon at this time.
Light has to travel a longer distance through the atmosphere, which causes the shorter wavelength colors, like blue, to scatter out before they ever reach our eyes. This process is called scattering.
The longer wavelength colors (orange, yellow and red) are the spectrum colors that are left and are highly visible.
Add clouds to the mix and a sunrise or sunset can be even more amazing!
Higher clouds reflect colors the best because they tend to not block out the sun as low clouds can.
Pollution, dust and smoke can mute colors, as you see below.
A storm can clear away these pollutants and lead to better air quality and incredible sunrises and sunsets.
And they're not just nice to look at.
Growing research suggests experiencing nature's beauty can inspire awe, which can lead to increased happiness, improved health and feelings of humility.
It turns out the mesmerizing effects of the golden hour gently nudges us to become more present in our lives, even if it's just for a minute or two.