Out of the blue.Over the course of several weeks, a blue lake turned blood-red. The shade-shifting Lake Voui (VOO-ee) sits atop a volcano volcano, vents or fissures in the earth's crust through which gases, molten rock, or lava, and solid fragments are discharged. Their study is called volcanology. on Vanuatu, an island in the South Pacific. Scientists say that magma deep inside the volcano is partly to blame for the sudden color change. This molten rock contains hot water and dissolved dis·solve v. dis·solved, dis·solv·ing, dis·solves v.tr. 1. To cause to pass into solution: dissolve salt in water. 2. elements such as iron. When the heated fluid rises to the volcano's surface, it pools at the bottom of the lake. Typically, the searing sear 1 v. seared, sear·ing, sears v.tr. 1. To char, scorch, or burn the surface of with or as if with a hot instrument. See Synonyms at burn1. 2. fluid--including the dissolved iron--remains buried at the bottom of the lake, giving the water its blue hue. But strong winds or more vigorous Volcanic activity can stir up the lake, sending the deep water to the surface. There, the iron reacts with oxygen in the air. The elements combine to create a red form of iron oxide The material used to coat the surfaces of magnetic tapes and lower-capacity disks. known as rust. These fine iron oxide particles stay suspended in the lake, "so it will stay red for quite a while," says Johan Varekamp, a geologist at Wesleyan University Wesleyan University, at Middletown, Conn.; coeducational; chartered and opened 1831. There are special cooperative study programs with the California Institute of Technology and the engineering department of Columbia Univ. in Connecticut. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion