Why NCR skies turned vivid orange on Wednesday

Netizens marveled at the orange sunset in Metro Manila and nearby provinces on Wednesday.

In a ''24 Oras'' report on Thursday, Kuya Kim explained that the orange sunset was caused by a phenomenon called scattering, wherein sunlight refracts or bends upon hitting the Earth’s atmosphere.

“Definitely, may kinalaman [sa kulay ng langit] yung concept ng scattering or yung pagkalat ng liwanag sa ating atmosphere. Yung bawat kulay na yon ay represented by different wavelengths. Yung mga mahabang wavelength [ay] kulay red at orange dahil yun yung least na na-iscatter,” said PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja.

(Definitely, the concept of scattering or the spread of light in the atmosphere contributed [to the color of the sky]. Each of those colors is represented by different wavelengths. The colors that are scattered the least are red and orange, which have longer wavelengths.)

PAGASA also debunked claims that the vivid colors of the sky are caused by high levels of pollution.

“Actually, that's a misconception na kapag mas maraming pollutants mas nagiging vivid yung ating sunset. Actually, opposite yon. Sila actually nag-a-absorb nung light particles, lalo na yung mga kulay red [at] orange kaya mas nasu-suppress yung ganda ng kulay,” Estareja said.

(Actually, that’s a misconception that more pollutants cause more vivid sunsets. Actually, it’s the opposite. They are actually the ones that absorb the light particles, especially red and orange, so the beauty of the colors is suppressed.)

He went on to explain that bright sunsets are actually a sign of ''improving'' weather, not a warning of incoming storms.

“Meron mga nagsasabi na mga ganitong kulay ng sky ay pangitain na magkakaroon ng matinding storm, but then, as I have said earlier, yung mga associated ng ganitong kagandang mga sunsets ay yung mga middle at saka yung mga high clouds, which are not actually rain-bearing clouds. Most of the time, improving weather [ang ibig sabihin] yun,” he added.

(There are those that claim these colors of the sky are signs that there would be a strong storm, but then, as I have said earlier, those associated with these kinds of sunsets are the middle and high clouds, which are not actually rain-bearing clouds. Most of the time, [it means] improving weather.) —Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News