Simulation and visualization of atmospheric light phenomena induced by light scattering

This paper presents a method of visualizing some of the light phenomena visible in the outdoors such as sunsets, rainbows, purple lights or halos. These phenomena are produced by the scattering of sunlight and sky light on atmospherical particles. The enormous increase in computing power in the last ten years has made it possible to correctly simulate some of these light phenomena and render them visible, using computer-graphics techniques. The created visualization environment combines the mathematical basis of the scattering process (Rayleigh- and Mie-scattering) with real world properties for the atmosphere (pure air, aerosols, ozone) and its particles (soot, dust, water, ice crystals) to reproduce light effects by specifying sun position and the atmospheric composition.