The Sky in Florida Divided Into Two Parts – Split Sunset Explained

On social media, you may have seen images of a sunset where half of the sky is colourful and the other one is dark. This is not the result of Photoshop or AI. The rare natural phenomenon is called a “split sunset” and is explained by a specific atmospheric condition called cloud cover.

Let’s figure out why it occurs and how you can see it.

What is a sunset, actually?

According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sunsets happen because the light spreads out when the sun goes below the horizon. As the sun’s light travels a longer path through the atmosphere during sunset, more of the blue light gets scattered away, making the light that reaches our eyes look reddish.

Even after the Sun dips below the horizon and looks like it’s gone, it’s still there. We simply can’t see the Sun because the part of the Earth between the horizon and our feet is in the way.

Cloud cover

Hidden clouds can block the sun’s rays, casting a shadow in the sky. This optical effect is caused by a condition called cloud cover. When a big cloud is between the sun and the clouds closer to the ground, it casts a shadow on those lower clouds. This blocks direct sunlight from hitting the other clouds, creating the appearance of a vertical barrier that divides the sky into two different sections.

With partial cloud cover, one part of the sky is lit up by the setting sun, while another part is shadowed by clouds.

Here is a visual representation of the split sunset from a science writer, Joe Hanson. He explained the phenomenon using emojis on X.

In Autumn 2023, a breathtaking sunset in Florida created a social media buzz. A video shared on X showed a sunset that looked like it had two halves: one side was bright with reds and yellows, while the other side was darker and more muted.

How rare are split sunsets?

The split sunset effect is rather rare. For it to happen, everything has to line up just right. You need a combination of three conditions at once:

• clouds at different heights;
• a low sun angle;
• and partial cloud cover.

However, the nature of a split sunset is occasional and hard to predict. So, don’t forget to look up: maybe one day you will be lucky enough to witness it.