<p>In computer graphics the effect is called "<a href="http://www.severewx.com/Radiation/scattering.html" rel="noreferrer">atmospheric scattering</a>", that's sun light scattering from atoms and other particles in the atmosphere. In modern computer games atmospheric scattering is commonly modelled with <a href="http://www-evasion.imag.fr/people/Eric.Bruneton/" rel="noreferrer">Bruneton sky model</a> by Eric Bruneton and is most prevalent in the clear sky due to long view distances, but also visible for distant objects on ground as you have observed.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/I681a.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/I681a.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Atmospheric scattering in Bruneton model is composed of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mie_scattering" rel="noreferrer">Mie scattering</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayleigh_scattering" rel="noreferrer">Rayleigh scattering</a>. Mie scattering is mostly wavelength independent strongly anisotropic scattering from particles that are quite a bit larger than the wavelength of light (water droplets &amp; pollution in the atmosphere). Mie scattering results in effects like halo around the sun.</p>

<p>Rayleigh scattering on the other hand is wavelength dependent scattering from atoms in the atmosphere whose size is close to the visible light wavelength range. Rayleigh scattering is responsible of effects such as the blueish sky at noon and blueish tint of objects in the distance.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-28T13:53:00.643Z
2017-04-28T14:00:57.553Z
2017-04-28T14:00:57.553Z
JarkkoL
<p>Do you mean <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/haze" rel="nofollow noreferrer">haze</a>?</p>

<p>FWIW, in Australia the Blue Mountains get their name from the <a href="http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/eucalypts" rel="nofollow noreferrer">release of oil into the atmosphere from the eucalypts</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-28T08:15:41.523Z
2017-04-28T08:15:41.523Z
Simon F
<p>As Simon F says, the meterological phenomenon that causes this is <em>haze</em>. A physicist would call it an example of <em>scattering</em>, but the visual effect is known as <em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerial_perspective" rel="nofollow noreferrer">aerial perspective</a></em>. Reproducing this in paintings has been a technique since the 15th Century, with Leonardo da Vinci one of the early proponents.</p>

<p>Since your question included a nice real-world example, here's a computer graphics example, courtesy of Dave Pape (CC-by) from a <a href="http://resumbrae.com/ub/dms423_f07/09/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">slide deck of techniques for showing depth</a>:</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/rT2lh.jpg" alt="Aerial perspective in GTA"></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-28T16:34:02.537Z
My understanding is "haze" refers more to scattering due to water droplets or other small particles in the air, not the blue (Rayleigh scattering) effect from the air itself.
Nathan Reed
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-28T16:46:50.333Z
Meteorologically speaking, *haze* is specifically water, not other particles, so yes, there are multiple causes leading to the real-world effect. That's part of why it looks different in different situations, and why you hear so many words in connection with it.
Dan Hulme
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-28T08:34:48.740Z
2017-04-28T08:34:48.740Z
Dan Hulme
<p>What is the name of effect, that we see on far objects in outdoors ? These objects are low-contrast, foggy ? Is it only fog or some scattering ? <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/1EEw5.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/1EEw5.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<rendering><fog>
What is name for far lowcontrast blueish landspace?
Piotrek
# What is name for far lowcontrast blueish landspace?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-04-28)

What is the name of effect, that we see on far objects in outdoors ? These objects are low-contrast, foggy ? Is it only fog or some scattering ? [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/1EEw5.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/1EEw5.jpg)

**Tags:** rendering, fog


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-04-28. Score: 5

In computer graphics the effect is called "[atmospheric scattering](http://www.severewx.com/Radiation/scattering.html)", that's sun light scattering from atoms and other particles in the atmosphere. In modern computer games atmospheric scattering is commonly modelled with [Bruneton sky model](http://www-evasion.imag.fr/people/Eric.Bruneton/) by Eric Bruneton and is most prevalent in the clear sky due to long view distances, but also visible for distant objects on ground as you have observed.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/I681a.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/I681a.jpg)

Atmospheric scattering in Bruneton model is composed of [Mie scattering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mie_scattering) and [Rayleigh scattering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayleigh_scattering). Mie scattering is mostly wavelength independent strongly anisotropic scattering from particles that are quite a bit larger than the wavelength of light (water droplets & pollution in the atmosphere). Mie scattering results in effects like halo around the sun.

Rayleigh scattering on the other hand is wavelength dependent scattering from atoms in the atmosphere whose size is close to the visible light wavelength range. Rayleigh scattering is responsible of effects such as the blueish sky at noon and blueish tint of objects in the distance.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-04-28. Score: 1

Do you mean [haze](http://www.thefreedictionary.com/haze)?

FWIW, in Australia the Blue Mountains get their name from the [release of oil into the atmosphere from the eucalypts](http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/eucalypts).


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### Answer by username_3 on 2017-04-28. Score: 1

As username_2 F says, the meterological phenomenon that causes this is *haze*. A physicist would call it an example of *scattering*, but the visual effect is known as *[aerial perspective](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerial_perspective)*. Reproducing this in paintings has been a technique since the 15th Century, with Leonardo da Vinci one of the early proponents.

Since your question included a nice real-world example, here's a computer graphics example, courtesy of Dave Pape (CC-by) from a [slide deck of techniques for showing depth](http://resumbrae.com/ub/dms423_f07/09/):

![Aerial perspective in GTA](https://i.sstatic.net/rT2lh.jpg)

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: My understanding is "haze" refers more to scattering due to water droplets or other small particles in the air, not the blue (Rayleigh scattering) effect from the air itself.  
> **username_3**: Meteorologically speaking, *haze* is specifically water, not other particles, so yes, there are multiple causes leading to the real-world effect. That's part of why it looks different in different situations, and why you hear so many words in connection with it.  

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