Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Stripy icebergs...

These pictures arrived in e-mail attachment today - they're obviously doing the rounds... Anyone know what causes the stripes to happen ?
Post a comment below KES pupils....


As Svalbard melts away (a possible future...) is this going to be a more common sight ?

4 comments:

  1. I think that I have found an answer:
    Normally an iceberg appears White as a result of the tiny bubbles trapped within which scatter light in every direction, however:
    Blue stripes are created when a crevice in the ice sheet fills up with meltwater and freezes so quickly that no bubbles form.
    When an iceberg falls into the sea, a layer of salty seawater can freeze to the underside. If this is rich in algae, it can form a Green stripe.
    Brown lines are caused by sediment, picked up when the ice sheet grinds downhill towards the sea.

    Much of this information was found at: "http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/answers-and-new-pictures-abbout-marbled.html"
    I don't think that global warming has any effect on how frequently these occur. This is just rare example of many different phenomenona occuring at once. Yet, I might be wrong.

    TOM CLARK

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  2. Cor Tom, I have just researched that, then I see you have written it all already.

    Josh Green

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  3. I think Tom has said it all!!

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