[REGNUM.RU] The sky over Venezuela turned red a week after a devastating earthquake. State-run television channel VTV published a scientific explanation for this phenomenon on July 1.
On the evening of June 30, residents of Caracas and the state of La Guaira noticed an unusual reddish glow in the sky and posted photos and videos on social media.
Experts explained to the TV channel that the phenomenon is related to the Rayleigh scattering effect. After an earthquake, large quantities of dust, sand, and tiny particles of construction debris are released into the atmosphere, scattering sunlight. As a result, the observer receives predominantly long wavelengths of light in the red and orange spectrum.
The effect can be intensified by strong winds, high air dust levels and the influx of dust masses, including from the Sahara Desert.
At the same time, the scientists recalled the existence of so-called "earthquake lights"—a rare geophysical phenomenon caused by electrical charges generated by the fracture and friction of quartz-containing rocks in the Earth's crust. The researchers emphasized that these light flashes have a different origin and are not related to changes in the color of the sky due to atmospheric dust.
Similar phenomena have previously been observed in other countries. In March, the skies over western Australia turned a deep red due to Tropical Cyclone Narelle, which kicked up dense clouds of dust. In April, a similar effect was recorded in Antalya, Turkey, after a powerful sandstorm moved in from North Africa.
Powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes struck Venezuela on the evening of June 24. A state of emergency was declared in the country. On June 30, National Assembly Speaker Jorge RodrÃguez announced that the death toll had reached 1,943, with another 10,571 injured.