Why are they grey? Did they used to look like Caribbean seas and we just polluted them? And why is their sand white and ours is grey or dirty-looking?
2007-01-25 09:52:14 · 6 answers · asked by andrea12481 2 in Environment
The color of the ocean is directly related to how far you live from the equator. The further north or south you go, the greener(or grey-er) the water gets. This is because cold water dissolves carbon dioxide and other gases better. More carbon dioxide in the water means more algae. More algae mean greener water.
This is also why really big fish and sharks prefer colder water. It makes it easier for them to breath.
Our sand naturally has more iron in it. I've been to beaches in the galapagos that have green sand, red sand, and black sand. Sand color just depends on what rocks you have in the area.
2007-01-25 10:12:47 · answer #1 · answered by Kender_fury 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think the correct answer is a mix of things,.. it's got a lot to do with pollution in some areas, water traffic in the area, depth, air quality in the area. The water will reflect the color of the sky for the most part and if that sky is filled with smoke/smog you'll get a nasty color off of the top of the water. If there is a lot of ship traffic and whatnot, the bottom of the sea will get stirred up in shallow areas creating a nasty gloomy look to the water. Pollution just brings the nasty color in heavily populated areas. If you consider that the Caribbean has a lot less going on in all of these areas than the U.S. you can understand. I've personally been all over the world on ships and have seen the true ocean and it is one of the most beautiful sights. Deep blue and stretches on forever.
2007-01-25 10:21:40 · answer #2 · answered by Justin W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are alot of different types of sand. The sand is Costa Rica isn't white at all, it's a grey/black colour, compared to it, ours is very white.
The colour of the ocean (not the shore) is mostly a reflection of the sky, on sunny days it appears bluer, on cloudy days it looks grey. Perhaps in the Carribean the skies are less polluted making the water look clearer, but I think the reason they are so blue/greenish and clear is because it is much shallower around the islands. Googe pics of the Whitsundays vs the Pacific Ocean and I think you will notice the difference in color vs depth.
2007-01-25 10:17:29 · answer #3 · answered by Erin B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a lot of the gulf of mexico is brown because of all the silt washing in from the mississippi river.
2007-01-25 14:42:28 · answer #4 · answered by frito_pie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To many surfers using it for their own private bathroom.
2007-01-25 09:59:41 · answer #5 · answered by Chazz Drizzler 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cause they are polluted and i think theere natural color is grey.
2007-01-25 09:59:34 · answer #6 · answered by Cutie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋