Infrared Light and the Sun

Infrared light position in the electromagnetic spectrum is essentially between the two extreme poles. These poles are the state of visibility (visible light) and that of invisibility which is said to be the microwave portion. It has certain characteristics which are similar to that of the visible lights. The visible lights use to have a kind of length in their waves which enables them to spread from a range of red to violet. The same is the case with the infrared lights as they too have wavelengths. Since these lights are stretching in between the two extreme poles, the wave near the visible portion is called "near infrared" and the one close to the microwave portion is called the "far infrared". Much of the infrared light we receive originates from the sun. As most of us are aware that the sun is the epicenter of energy of our solar system; it is but quite certainly obvious that it would logically be the largest emitter of infrared light.

If we try to trace why the sun is emitting infrared light then we must take a closer look at its composition. The sun is composed primarily of hydrogen, helium, and a little bit of other elements. The actual color of the sun is white but it looks like yellow because of radiation in the lights, sounds, or moving particles of the atmosphere. This happens when the blue photons remove blue light. Even the sun appears to be red, orange and all these are the outcome of the same process. As a byproduct of nuclear fusion that continues to occur in the sun, it becomes a perennial source of power which also leads to the continuous emitting of infrared waves.

Many of us have a vague idea about Iifrared lights. It is something which we use to feel everyday and everywhere. These are present in the sunlight, the light of fire, etc., but this does not mean that all the infrared lights are hot. A best example of this is the wavelength of the remote control. One thing to be noticed is that human beings cannot see the infrared light but snakes have this quality of detecting this light. This is the reason for which snakes can find out hot blooded animals even in darkness.

Not only the Earth, even the clouds also receive the infrared lights directly from the sun. Clouds use to receive these lights and send some light back to the atmosphere. These infrared lights are absorbed by the water vapor, cloud droplets, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorophlurocarbons, etc. elements. These elements even use to re-radiate these infrared lights to the atmosphere and to the Earth.

The most important thing is learning how this light come in notice and who is man who discovered all of this. William Herschel, an astronomer, was the first person to discover this in the 19th century. Though it was discovered by him the name "infrared" was not used until the late 19th century. It was first called as "Calorific Lights" by him.

Though the infrared lights are helping our survival, they are dangerous to our health. One remarkable example is skin burns. Too much exposure to sunlight leads to skin burns. Therefore doctors suggest keeping the skin safe from heat of the sun by the use of umbrella, skin tonics, sunscreen lotions and clothes. Overall, the infrared lights from the sun have both beneficial and harmful effects.