Badlands National Park 1998

South Dakota

"The Wall" of the badlands

At dawn and . . .

In late afternoon light.

Rising Sun Catching the Peaks

Early Morning Sun over the Badlands

These are called "crepuscular rays." We have all seen them. They are caused by dust particles scattering sunlight. Excuse the pedantic note but, hey, I was a professional meteorologist for 31 years! Anyone curious enough about this common phenomenon, seen by many but understood by only a few, is referred to the classic Light and Colour In The Open Air , M Minnaert, 1954, Dover Publications Inc., N.Y., p275.

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