Ocean Colour: Why Does Unpolluted Sea Water Look Different?

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SUMMARY

The color of unpolluted ocean water is influenced by multiple factors, including light absorption and reflection. While the sky's reflection contributes to the blue appearance on clear days, the inherent properties of water play a significant role. Water absorbs red light more effectively, which enhances the blue hues. Additionally, variations in color can occur due to environmental factors such as algae blooms, sandy bottoms, and proximity to estuaries.

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  • Understanding of light absorption properties of water
  • Knowledge of environmental factors affecting ocean color
  • Familiarity with basic oceanography concepts
  • Awareness of the impact of pollution on water color
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  • Research the light absorption spectrum of water
  • Explore the effects of phytoplankton on ocean color
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Marine biologists, environmental scientists, oceanographers, and anyone interested in understanding the natural color variations of ocean water.

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why does the waters of the unpolluted oceans and seas have their own different natural colour?
is it jus a mere reflection of the sky??
 
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Originally posted by alchemist
why does the waters of the unpolluted oceans and seas have their own different natural colour?
is it jus a mere reflection of the sky??

Yes. That's why it's blue on a clear day and gray on a cloudy day. You can also get brown nears estuaries, blue green in shallow areas with sandy bottoms, red in algae blooms, etc.
 
Originally posted by alchemist
is it jus a mere reflection of the sky??

No, but sky reflection is part of the reason that you see oceans as blue.

Apparently, water tends to absorb more red light...
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~etrnsfer/water.htm?o=0
 

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