Haze and Its Causes Regional Haze and Visibility Protection Haze and Its Causes Haze obscures the clarity, color, texture and form of what we see. Some light is absorbed by the particles and gases and other light is scattered away before it reaches an observer.
More pollutants mean more absorption and scattering of light, resulting in more haze.
Some haze-causing pollutants are formed when gases emitted to the air form particles as they are carried many miles from the source of the pollutants. Particles that are formed from gases include sulfates, nitrates, and some organic carbon particles. Natural sources such as forest fires and windblown dust also contribute to haze. Pollution in the air scatters and absorbs light so the view is not as clear or as far as it should be. Sulfate particles formed from sulfur dioxide gas, emitted from utility boilers and other combustion sources, are a major cause of regional haze.