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The reason the ocean is blue is due to the absorption and scattering of light. The blue wavelengths of light are scattered, similar to the scattering of blue light in the sky but absorption is a much larger factor than scattering for the clear ocean water. In water, absorption is strong in the red and weak in the blue, thus red light is absorbed quickly in the ocean leaving blue.
Almost all sunlight that enters the ocean is absorbed, except very close to the coast. The red, yellow, and green wavelengths of sunlight are absorbed by water molecules in the ocean.
When sunlight hits the ocean, some of the light is reflected back directly but most of it penetrates the ocean surface and interacts with the water molecules that it encounters.
The red, orange, yellow, and green wavelengths of light are absorbed so that the remaining light we see is composed of the shorter wavelength blues and violets. If there are any particles suspended in the water, they will increase the scattering of light. In coastal areas, runoff from rivers, resuspension of sand and silt from the bottom by tides, waves and storms and a number of other substances can change the color of the near-shore waters.
Some types of particles in particular, the cells of phytoplankton, also referred to as algae can also contain substances that absorb certain wavelengths of light, which alters its characteristics.
The most important light-absorbing substance in the oceans is chlorophyll, which phytoplankton use to produce carbon by photosynthesis. Due to this green pigment - chlorophyll - phytoplankton preferentially absorb the red and blue portions of the light spectrum for photosynthesis and reflect green light. So, the ocean over regions with high concentrations of phytoplankton will appear as certain shades, from blue-green to green, depending upon the type and density of the phytoplankton population there.
The basic principle behind the remote sensing of ocean color from space is this: the more phytoplankton in the water, the greener it is There are other substances that may be found dissolved in the water that can also absorb light. Since these substances are usually composed of organic carbon, researchers generally refer to these substances as colored dissolved organic matter, CDOM for short. The study of ocean color helps scientists gain a better understanding of phytoplankton and their impact on the Earth system.
Ocean color is, therefore, a valuable research tool for the study of ocean biology, chemistry, and physics. So, why does the ocean have a dark blue tint in some places, lighter or turquoise in others, and sometimes more of a brown color which we deem dirty and look at it as though it is one of the grossest things on the planet? As mentioned earlier, shallower waters have a lighter blue shade than deeper ones. In deep water, the liquid absorbs almost all of the sunlight because of the lack of sediment, and only a tiny amount of organic matter such as algae is present.
This simply explains why blue appears to be darker in deep oceans. So, in regions with a high amount of phytoplankton, the ocean will appear in shades of green. It depends on the density and type of the phytoplankton present there. NASA reiterates that "the more phytoplankton in the water, the greener it is Upwelling makes an ocean appear murky. How about water with a tint of brown?
Does it mean that it is not safe? Is it automatically dirty and filled with contaminants? Murkier water is an effect of upwelling. It is a process in which deep, cold water rises toward the surface and often occurs in the open ocean and along coastlines. In this case, the water has a high amount of floating sand churned up by waves , which explains the murky appearance. It can also be because of some other biological organisms that reflect light differently, causing its murkiness. Either way, there is nothing gross about it.
It is just Science that is working behind all of these conditions. Stop having the notion that a blue ocean is a safe and clean ocean while a green or brown sea is not. In the real sense, the color of the sea does not entirely and certainly determine its safety and cleanliness. Do you know what does? Nothing other than the massive amount of garbage floating and killing marine life. Here at Wave Tribe, we uphold the aim of going green and preserving the ecosystem for future generations; that is why we create eco-surfing products.
We would be glad to gain support for our objectives by joining our Heal the Oceans campaign and practicing the utilization of economical materials that leave no harm to the environment or bodies of water. Learning about our eco-surfing products would be a great start for everyone. More Wave Tribe Reads.
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