Image:Grand prismatic spring.jpg

Aerial view of Grand Prismatic Spring; Hot Springs, Midway & Lower Geyser Basin; Jim Peaco; July 2001 Yellowstone National Park Image by NPS Photo

The Grand Prismatic Spring of Yellowstone National Park showing steam rising from hot and sterile deep azure blue water (owing to the light absorbing overtone of an OH stretch which is shifted to 698 nm by hydrogen bonding ) in the centre surrounded by huge mats of brilliant orange algae and bacteria. The colour of which is due to the ratio of chlorophyll to carotenoid molecules produced by the organisms. During summertime the chlorophyll content of the organisms is low and thus the mats appear orange, red, or yellow. However during the winter, the mats are usually dark green, because sunlight is more scarce and the microbes produce more chlorophyll to compensate, thereby masking the carotenoid colors.

Source: http://www.nps.gov/yell/slidefile/thermalfeatures/hsandterraces/midwaylower/page-4.htm ; English Wikipedia, original upload 1 April 2004 by ChrisO

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