2006-10-01 19:00:00 · 12 answers · asked by gpkfloss 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
Sunlight is made up of all the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Some of the sunlight is reflected off the surface of the water, reflecting the color of the sky. Some of the sunlight penetrates the water and is scattered by ripples and particles in the water (this tinges the appearance of the ocean with the color of the particles). In deep water, much of the sunlight is scattered by the oxygen in the water, and this scatters more of the blue light. Water absorbs more of the red light in sunlight; the water also enhances the scattering of blue light.
2006-10-01 19:04:18 · answer #1 · answered by Azul 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sunlight is made up of all the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Some of the sunlight is reflected off the surface of the water, reflecting the color of the sky. Some of the sunlight penetrates the water and is scattered by ripples and particles in the water (this tinges the appearance of the ocean with the color of the particles). In deep water, much of the sunlight is scattered by the oxygen in the water, and this scatters more of the blue light.
Water absorbs more of the red light in sunlight; the water also enhances the scattering of blue light. Sir Chandrasekhar Venkata Raman (an Indian physicist) won the Nobel prize in 1930 for his work on light.
Some Oddly-Colored Seas:
The Red Sea often looks red because of red algae that live in this sea.
The Black Sea looks almost black because it has a high concentration of hydrogen sulfide (which appears black).
2006-10-01 19:10:09 · answer #2 · answered by Jeremysmom05 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sunlight is made up of all the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Some of the sunlight is reflected off the surface of the water, reflecting the color of the sky. Some of the sunlight penetrates the water and is scattered by ripples and particles in the water (this tinges the appearance of the ocean with the color of the particles). In deep water, much of the sunlight is scattered by the oxygen in the water, and this scatters more of the blue light.
2006-10-02 04:02:34 · answer #3 · answered by utnip123 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ocean actually isn't blue. It clear, like all all water is. If anything, the water is green because of the plants that live under the water.
The reason though that it looks blue in most areas is because the sun reflects off of tiny particles in the water. Also, water molecules scatter blue light the most out of the rainbow of colors from the sun's color spectrum.
2006-10-02 02:41:49 · answer #4 · answered by Mae 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it absorbs all other light but reflects blue.
thats why the ocean is blue.
2006-10-01 20:23:25 · answer #5 · answered by vader_the_bird 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its colour is a reflection from the sky.
2006-10-01 19:05:08 · answer #6 · answered by Mousey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its the reflection of the sky.
2006-10-02 06:09:41 · answer #7 · answered by Chippie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is no such thing as colored body masses of water.It is clear.Any color reflects from external object, blue from the sky, brown from mud/sand.
2006-10-01 19:04:56 · answer #8 · answered by theradicalwomen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's a reflection of the sky, and vice versa too
2006-10-01 19:01:41 · answer #9 · answered by bob 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its the reflection of the sky......
2006-10-01 19:04:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋