Why Are Melt Ponds on Ice So Bright Blue?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why are melt ponds on ice so bright blue?

The Big Idea

Melt ponds are bright blue because water soaks up red light and scatters blue light! The white ice below bounces the light back up. That makes the pools glow like swimming pools.

Summer Melt

Step one: summer melt. In summer, sunshine melts pools of water on the surface of sea ice and glaciers. These pools are called melt ponds, and they can look like swimming pools on the ice.

Water Picks Blue

Step two: water picks blue. Sunlight holds all colors, and water soaks up red light the most. The blue light is scattered and sent back, so thin, clear pools look blue.

White Floor

Step three: a white floor. The white ice under the pond reflects light back up through the water. That makes the bright turquoise color you can see from above.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Sunshine warms the ice in summer. Meltwater collects in pools. The white ice beneath bounces light up. And the pool glows blue, like a swimming pool.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Melt ponds can cover up to about half of the Arctic sea ice in summer. They are dark enough to soak up extra sunlight, so ponds can speed melting. Scientists measure ponds from planes and satellites. Ponds freeze over again as fall arrives.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, put a white plate in a clear bowl of water. Look at it from above, then add a few drops of blue food coloring. How does the color change? Share what you discover with a grown-up.

Outro

Water and white ice team up to make melt ponds bright blue. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!