Valohäiriöitä

Valohäiriöitä is a Finnish term that translates to "light disturbances" or "light anomalies." It broadly refers to unusual or unexpected phenomena related to light that are observed in the natural world or in artificial environments. These disturbances can range from subtle atmospheric effects to more dramatic visual experiences.

In meteorology, valohäiriöitä can encompass a variety of optical phenomena. Examples include halos around the sun or moon, which are caused by the refraction of light through ice crystals in the atmosphere. Sundogs, also known as parhelia, are bright spots that appear on either side of the sun, again due to ice crystal refraction. Rainbows, a common but still striking light phenomenon, are formed by the reflection and refraction of sunlight in water droplets. More unusual atmospheric optical events, like light pillars or the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) and aurora australis (Southern Lights), also fall under this category.

Beyond atmospheric optics, the term can also be applied to visual disturbances experienced by individuals, such as phosphenes, which are the sensation of seeing light without light actually entering the eye, often caused by physical stimulation or neurological activity. In a more technical context, valohäiriöitä might refer to issues with artificial lighting systems, like flickering lights, inconsistent brightness, or color shifts, which can affect visibility and comfort. The observation and study of valohäiriöitä contribute to our understanding of atmospheric physics, optics, and even human perception.