Note for these clips in particular: due to the cloud video service, the alternate video source will have higher quality for most users.
Humidity appears to be crucial for the visibility of light rays, as is the presence of something dense enough to cast a contrasting shadow. Without these conditions, light manifests only as a soft, indistinct glow. Light rays, in essence, are a form of luminescence; the humidity in the air seems to emit a certain amount of light in every direction, not just along the incoming path of the primary light source. Moisture also absorbs a portion of the light, slightly attenuating its intensity. As rays pass through clouds, the cloud’s density dictates how much light is transmitted. These crepuscular rays are most frequently observed in partly cloudy skies with high humidity, typically one to three hours before sunset. The extended daylight hours of summer provide ample opportunity for these rays to appear, though cloud cover is less common in Oregon during that season. As a result, the fall and spring months often offer ideal conditions as the day progresses and some clouds linger.
Clips with faster motion utilize a longer interval of approximately ten seconds. In late afternoon, the clouds often have sufficient spacing to allow sunlight to stream through, and the presence of humidity accentuates the vibrant light rays. The clouds tend to move rapidly across the landscape, and as seen in the latter half of the clip, the light rays shift dramatically in response to the changing cloud positions
Light rays- also called ‘God rays’- exist in the following Day categories: Cold winter woods, suspended light, rays of sunshine, and looking up into the canopy of light.
