The Blueness Of The Sky : A Cyanometer

There can be no doubt that some of the sunniest and clearest of Summer days Great Britain has had in 2016 have been fantastic, whilst others, as we all know, have been much worse. Whether you believe what a weather forecaster publicises or not is often a subjective matter, but surely nothing can beat looking out of the window? Taking both to the next level - observation and forecasting -, the Cyanometer by Slovenian artist Martin Bricelj Baraga is an instrument that measures the blueness of the sky. How innovative!

Both a monument and open source software that understands and translates the air quality in Ljubljana (Slovenia), the impressive looking apparatus records the skies' 'blueness' and creates an online data archive for all to see. Currently located in just the one spot around the world, the design aims to shift everyone's attention to air pollution rather than temperature, with the former factor considered more important to daily life and existence, yet hitherto analysed and considered.

Originally invented by Horace Benedict De Saussure in 1789, the original Cyanometer proved that the blueness of the sky is influenced by both moisture and the amount of suspended particles in the air, and as such, should be an important factor to consider - one that is overlooked by the weather forecasters of today.

This installation by Baraga works by capturing images of the sky and these are then translated into precisely fifty three shades of blue, all of which outlines the air quality of the sky as well as displaying current weather conditions. Via a pollution index and transparent data on the accessible cyanometer data website, it isn't just the monument itself that should be appreciated.

As Baraga wonderfully explains, "...In a cloud based world, the only clouds that really matter are the ones we see in the sky." Discover more about the innovative art at Cyanometer.net.

Photography credit : Cyanometer.net