Atmospheric Clarity Score
Comprehensive atmospheric clarity analysis for landscape and astrophotography using CAMS aerosol optical depth, particle composition (dust, smoke, sea salt), particle size distribution (Ångström exponent), and visibility conditions.
What is Atmospheric Clarity Score?
Technical detailsAtmospheric Clarity Score evaluates air transparency and visibility quality using CAMS satellite aerosol data and surface visibility measurements. The algorithm analyzes Aerosol Optical Depth (total atmospheric particle loading), particle composition (dust, smoke, sea salt), the Ångström exponent (particle size distribution), relative humidity, and cloud cover to quantify atmospheric clarity. High scores indicate pristine air with excellent visibility, vivid colors, and sharp distant detail—ideal for landscape photography and astrophotography.
Photography tip
How to use this conditionEvaluates atmospheric clarity using satellite aerosol data. High scores indicate pristine air with excellent visibility for landscape photography. Smoke from wildfires significantly reduces score. Low scores may still offer warm-toned conditions from dust aerosols.
Atmospheric Clarity Score in photography
In depthAtmospheric Clarity Score is PhotoWeather's Pro-tier metric for forecasting air transparency and visibility quality, designed for landscape, cityscape, and astrophotographers who need pristine atmospheric conditions to capture sharp, colorful distant subjects and clear night skies. Atmospheric clarity—the absence of haze, smog, dust, and smoke—directly impacts image quality by determining how much light is scattered or absorbed as it travels through the air. On clear days, photographers can capture distant mountains, cityscapes, and stars with vivid colors and sharp detail, while hazy conditions dull colors, reduce contrast, and obscure distant features.
Standard visibility measurements provide some insight, but PhotoWeather's algorithm goes deeper by incorporating CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) satellite aerosol data that quantifies atmospheric particle loading with scientific precision. Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) at 550nm is the primary metric, measuring how much particulate matter blocks light—low values (under 0.05) indicate exceptionally clear air, while high values (above 0.3) suggest significant haze, smoke, or dust. Particle composition matters too: smoke from wildfires severely degrades clarity and produces muddy gray haze, sea salt aerosol from ocean spray creates coastal haze, and dust aerosol can either degrade clarity or produce warm-toned haze depending on concentration. The Ångström exponent reveals particle size distribution—small particles scatter more light and reduce clarity more than large particles. Relative humidity affects haze formation because water vapor can condense on aerosol particles and amplify their scattering effect. Cloud cover is factored in to distinguish between aerosol haze and cloud coverage.
Scores above 80% indicate excellent clarity with minimal atmospheric interference—perfect for capturing distant subjects with full color saturation and sharp detail. Landscape photographers typically set thresholds of 75-80% to catch days when mountain ranges, city skylines, and other distant features will be crisp and vibrant. Astrophotographers benefit from high clarity scores because less atmospheric interference means darker skies and more visible stars. This derived field is essential for photographers planning shoots around distant subjects or night skies, ensuring they chase conditions that deliver the transparency and sharpness their images demand.
Frequently asked questions
Common questionsWhat is Atmospheric Clarity Score?
Atmospheric Clarity Score evaluates air transparency and visibility quality using CAMS satellite aerosol data and surface visibility measurements. The algorithm analyzes Aerosol Optical Depth (total atmospheric particle loading), particle composition (dust, smoke, sea salt), the Ångström exponent (particle size distribution), relative humidity, and cloud cover to quantify atmospheric clarity. High scores indicate pristine air with excellent visibility, vivid colors, and sharp distant detail—ideal for landscape photography and astrophotography.
How does Atmospheric Clarity Score affect photography?
Evaluates atmospheric clarity using satellite aerosol data. High scores indicate pristine air with excellent visibility for landscape photography. Smoke from wildfires significantly reduces score. Low scores may still offer warm-toned conditions from dust aerosols.
What values are typical for Atmospheric Clarity Score?
Atmospheric Clarity Score typically ranges from 0.0% to 100.0%. PhotoWeather monitors these values to help you identify ideal conditions for your photography goals.
How is Atmospheric Clarity Score calculated?
Atmospheric Clarity Score is an advanced derived condition calculated from multiple weather parameters including Aerosol Optical Depth (550nm), Dust AOD (550nm), Smoke AOD (550nm), Sea Salt AOD (550nm), Ångström Exponent. PhotoWeather's algorithms analyze these factors to provide a single, easy-to-understand score for this photography opportunity.
Typical values
Value rangeRelated fields
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Combines aurora activity with viewing conditions (darkness, cloud cover, visibility) to provide photography-ready aurora quality scores. Aurora activity is OVATION-aware from the compute step.
Blue Hour Quality
Evaluates atmospheric conditions for blue hour photography quality. Scores sky clarity, cloud type suitability (high thin clouds ideal), visibility, and calm conditions.
Fiery Red Sky Potential
Atmospheric suitability for fiery red sky conditions across extended time window around sunrise/sunset periods. Enhanced with CAMS aerosol data (AOD, particle composition, Ångström exponent) and GFS upper-air humidity for improved color prediction.
Fog Probability
Multi-factor fog formation likelihood combining visibility, dewpoint spread, humidity, and time-of-day analysis
Golden Hour Potential
Atmospheric suitability for golden hour photography across extended time window around golden hour periods
Golden Clouds Potential
Cloud formation suitability for golden hour photography across extended time window around golden hour periods
Cloud Drama Score
Analysis of cloud formations and atmospheric conditions for dramatic sky photography
Storm Intensity
Storm intensity analysis combining precipitation, wind conditions, atmospheric pressure, visibility, GFS simulated radar reflectivity, and wind shear for enhanced storm organization detection.
Frost Probability
Frost formation probability combining temperature, dewpoint spread, cloud cover, and wind analysis
Rainbow Probability
Probability of visible rainbow formation based on solar geometry and precipitation patterns
Coastal Drama Score
Analysis of coastal conditions combining wave dynamics, atmospheric conditions, and lighting for dramatic seascape photography. Evaluates wave height, swell patterns, spray potential, and atmospheric drama factors.
Light Breakthrough Potential
Likelihood of sun breaking through clouds creating dramatic rays and dappled light patterns. Best with partial cloud cover (40-70%) and some sunshine reaching the surface.
Soft Light Index
Quality of diffused light for portrait and product photography. High scores indicate soft, even lighting that minimizes harsh shadows - the 'giant softbox' effect.
Cloud Texture Score
Rates how visually interesting the clouds are - distinguishing dramatic formations from boring flat overcast. High scores indicate structured clouds with good light transmission.
Overcast Flatness
How flat and boring the overcast is. HIGH scores indicate uniform gray sky with no breaks or texture - generally unfavorable for most photography. LOW scores indicate breaks, texture, or clearing.
Aerosol Optical Depth (550nm)
Total aerosol optical depth at 550nm. Lower values indicate clearer skies and more vivid colours.
Visibility
Horizontal visibility distance
Smoke AOD (550nm)
Smoke component of aerosol optical depth (black carbon + organic matter). Indicates wildfire smoke or urban pollution affecting air quality and visibility.
Relative Humidity
Moisture content relative to saturation
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