天空的颜色！

 　　If we look at the sky on a perfectly¹ fine summer‘s day we shall find that the blue colour is the most pure and intense overhead, and when looking high up in a direction opposite to the sun. Near the horizon it is always less bright, while in the region immediately around the sun it is more or less yellow. The reason of this is that near the horizon we look through a very great thickness of the lower atmosphere, which is full of the larger dust particles reflecting white light, and this diluter² the pure blue of the higher atmosphere seen beyond, And in the vicinity of the sun a good deal of the blue light is reflected back into space by the finer dust, thus giving a yellowish tinge³ to that which reaches us reflected chiefly from the coarse dust of the lower atmosphere. At sunset and sunrise, however, this last effect is greatly intensified⁴, owing to the great thickness of the strata⁵ of air through which the light reaches us. The enormous amount of this dust is well shown by the fact that then only we can look full at the sun, even when the whole sky is free from clouds and there is no apparent mist. But the sun’s rays then reach us after having passed, first, through an enormous thickness of the higher strata of the air, the minute dust of which reflects most of the higher strata of the air, the minute dust of which reflects most of the blue rays away from us, leaving the complementary yellow light to pass on, Then, the somewhat coarser dust reflects the green rays, leaving a more orange-coloured light to pass on; and finally some of the yellow is reflected, leaving almost pure red. But owing to the constant presence of air currents, arranging both the dust and vapour in strata of varying extent and density⁶ ,and of high or low clouds which both absorb and reflect the light in varying degrees, we see produced all those wondrous⁷ combinations of tints⁸ and those gorgeous ever-changing colours which are a constant source of admiration⁹ and delight to all who have the advantage of an uninterrupted view to the west and who are accustomed to watch for those not infrequent exhibitions of nature’s kaleidoscopic¹⁰ colour painting. With every change in the altitude of the sun the display changes its character; and most of all when it has sunk below the horizon, and owing to the more favourable¹¹ angles a larger quantity of the coloured light is reflected toward us, Especially when there is a certain amount of cloud is this the case. These, so long as the sun was above the horizon, intercepted¹² much of the light and colour, but when the great luminary¹³ has passed away from our direct vision, his light shines more directly on the under sides of all the clouds and air strata of different densities¹⁴; a new and more brilliant light flushes the western sky, and a display of gorgeous ever-changing tints occurs which are at once the delight of the beholder¹⁵ and the despair of the artist. And all this unsurpassable glory we owe to--dust!

　　天空的色彩

　　晴空万里的夏日，如果我们观察一下天空，且背向太阳，极目仰望，就会发现头顶上空的蓝色最纯净，最浓郁。靠近天边，色彩往往较暗淡，太阳周围的地方则略呈黄色。这是因为我们向天边望去时，目光要穿过极厚的低空大气层，其中布满颗粒较大的尘埃，反射出白光，这就冲淡了天际高空大气层的纯蓝色。在太阳附近，大量蓝光则由细微的尘埃反射回太空。这样，主要由低空大气层的粗粒尘埃反射到地面的光线，便带有浅黄色。不过，在日出日落时，由于光线到达地面南非要穿过厚厚的大气层，这种反射效果大大增强了。只有在这种时候，我们才可以直视太阳，即使万里长空没有一点云彩，不见一丝雾霭。这就充分显示了低空尘埃的数量之大。但是太阳的光线终于到达了地面。它们先是穿过厚度极大的高空大气层，其中的细微尘埃把大部分蓝色的光反射掉了，让补色的黄光继续通行。然后，粗粒尘埃又反射掉绿色的光，让偏橙色的光继续通行。最后，部分黄色的光也反射掉，剩下几乎是纯红色的了。不过，由于不断出现气流，把法埃与水汽分层排列，广度不均，密度各异，加上高低空常有云层，不同程度地吸收并反射阳光，我们这才看到各种奇异的色调斑剥陆离，诸多绚丽的色彩变化万千;任何人只要有幸将西方的景致一览无余，只要有心观看大自然不时展现的那一幅幅瞬息万变的彩画，都会为之赞不绝口，喜不自胜。随着夕阳缓缓西坠，这种景观也不断变幻;尤其是在太阳沉入地平线之后，由于角度更加适宜，五颜六色的光就都发射到地面上来。遇有些许云雾，更是如此。本来，只要太阳还位于地平线之上，云雾便截住了不少夕阳和色彩;而今太阳从我们的视野消失，阳关便更为直接地照射到密度各异的重重云霭与层层大气的底部;一片崭新的、更加灿烂的阳光染红了西天，一幅景观色彩绚丽，变化万千，观赏者固然赏心悦目，然而自叹莫及。而我们之所以能领略如此无与伦比的美景，全应归功于--尘埃!

1 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

2 diluter   

稀释剂

参考例句：

• Development and application of a diluter for low-level heat recovery in sulphuric acid plants are described. 介绍硫酸装置低温热回收系统中稀释器的开发与应用。

3 tinge   

vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息

参考例句：

• The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。
• There was a tinge of sadness in her voice.她声音中流露出一丝忧伤。

4 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 strata   

n.地层（复数）；社会阶层

参考例句：

• The older strata gradually disintegrate.较老的岩层渐渐风化。
• They represent all social strata.他们代表各个社会阶层。

6 density   

n.密集，密度，浓度

参考例句：

• The population density of that country is 685 per square mile.那个国家的人口密度为每平方英里685人。
• The region has a very high population density.该地区的人口密度很高。

7 wondrous   

adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地

参考例句：

• The internal structure of the Department is wondrous to behold.看一下国务院的内部结构是很有意思的。
• We were driven across this wondrous vast land of lakes and forests.我们乘车穿越这片有着湖泊及森林的广袤而神奇的土地。

8 tints   

色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹

参考例句：

• leaves with red and gold autumn tints 金秋时节略呈红黄色的树叶
• The whole countryside glowed with autumn tints. 乡间处处呈现出灿烂的秋色。

9 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

10 kaleidoscopic   

adj.千变万化的

参考例句：

• London is a kaleidoscopic world.伦敦是个天花筒般的世界。
• The transfer of administrative personnel in that colony was so frequent as to create kaleidoscopic effect.在那个殖民地，官员调动频繁，就象走马灯似的。

11 favourable   

adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的

参考例句：

• The company will lend you money on very favourable terms.这家公司将以非常优惠的条件借钱给你。
• We found that most people are favourable to the idea.我们发现大多数人同意这个意见。

12 intercepted   

拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻

参考例句：

• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave the hotel. 他正要离开旅馆，记者们把他拦截住了。
• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave by the rear entrance. 他想从后门溜走，记者把他截住了。

13 luminary   

n.名人，天体

参考例句：

• That luminary gazed earnestly at some papers before him.那个大好佬在用心细看面前的报纸。
• Now that a new light shone upon the horizon,this older luminary paled in the west.现在东方地平线上升起了一轮朝阳，这弯残月就在西边天际失去了光泽。

14 densities   

密集( density的名词复数 )； 稠密； 密度（固体、液体或气体单位体积的质量）； 密度（磁盘存贮数据的可用空间）

参考例句：

• The range of densities of interest is about 3.5. 有用的密度范围为3．5左右。
• Densities presumably can be probed by radar. 利用雷达也许还能探测出气体的密度。

15 beholder   

n.观看者，旁观者

参考例句：

• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 看起来觉得美就是美。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It has been said that art is a tryst, for in the joy of it maker and beholder meet. 有人说艺术是一种幽会，因为艺术家和欣赏者可在幽会的乐趣中相遇在一起。 来自《简明英汉词典》