2007-08-31 03:48:55 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
The sea reflects the sky. The sea refracts light.
says: Dan Berger, Faculty Chemistry/Science, Bluffton College
2007-08-31 03:55:56 · answer #1 · answered by Nire 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The structure of the water molecule is such that it scatters blue light, much as the sky does. Most people say that water is coulourless but it IS in fact blue, you just need a lot a lot a lot of it to see the colour.
It is true that the sea reflects the colour of the sky so on an overcast day it will appear grey and on a sunny day it will appear blue but the true colour of water is blue.
Water is also influenced by impurities dissolved or suspended in it. This allows some rivers to run brown, yellow or red. It also allows shallow coral seas to appear sapphire blue or even green. There's also an influence from what may lie beneath it but close to the surface. Algae, krill and phytoplankton can change the sea all sorts of colours, even pink.
So yes, pure water IS in fact blue but the sea can appear many different colours. Tadaaah!
2007-09-02 15:52:20 · answer #2 · answered by BIMS Lewis 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sea is not blue. If it wasn't for the impurities the water would be transparent.
Often the sea appears to be grey or green and it can appear to be many other colours. Most of what you see is reflected light and the colour of the sky has a lot to do with it.
The blue colour can be what you see on a hot sunny day if the water is clean and unpolluted. If it is really clean you will be able to see right through the water near the shore.
2007-09-01 02:51:16 · answer #3 · answered by The Red Fool 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sea appears blue because of the reflection of light from the sky.However,the colour of sea and lakes depends upon impurities dissolved in the water to some extent.Water molecules and many dissolved substances such as iron and copper salts in water,absorb some red and orange frequncies more strongly than the rest of the spectrum.The residual light therefore looks green to blue.Blue refracts and scatters more strongly than green as seen from above the water.So the ocean also look blue.
Sometimes the depth of the sea or lake play a part in deciding the colour.In shallow waters, if the sea bed is green,then green will dominate and sea colour at that place may be greenish.
2007-09-01 01:22:51 · answer #4 · answered by Arasan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water is faint blue. Although water appears clear in small quanities (like a glass of water), the blue color becomes visible the more water we look through. Thus, deep lakes and seas are bluer than a shallow river.
The other factor is the surface of seas and lakes often reflect blue skylight, making them appear bluer.
2007-08-31 11:53:06 · answer #5 · answered by M.A.W. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To me, it looks black in most places because of the pollution and algae.
The blue sea is because the sky is blue. Why is the sky blue? You should try resolved questions.
2007-08-31 13:46:15 · answer #6 · answered by nondescript 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is the colour of the sky, if the Sky's gray so to is the sea. the sky is blue due to molecules in the air. and light bouncing off them
2007-08-31 13:12:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because the natural colour of water is blue.
2007-08-31 10:53:56 · answer #8 · answered by fopfip 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because it reflects the color of the sky
2007-08-31 15:32:33 · answer #9 · answered by Bri 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why is the sun yellow?
Why are the clouds white?
2007-08-31 10:58:33 · answer #10 · answered by Blush 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋