Why ocean looks blue

When the sun is setting, the light that reaches you has had to go through lots more atmosphere than when the sun is overhead, hence the only color light that is not scattered away is the long wavelength light, the red. The particles in these materials that are responsible for scattering the light are larger than the wavelength of light.

Consequently, all colors of light are scattered by more or less the same amount. Much of the scattering in milk is due to the lipids fat. If you take out the fat, the milk will not scatter as much light; that is probably why skim milk looks the way it does.

Already a subscriber? Sign in. Thanks for reading Scientific American. When light hits water, the water's molecules absorb some of the photons from the light. Everything absorbs at a different wavelength Your green t-shirt absorbs red , and as a result reflects the remaining colours back at a viewer that's why your t-shirt looks green. In shallow bodies of water like a drinking glass light penetrates it completely, as there is not enough water to absorb enough photons, so we see the water as colourless.

In deeper waters however, not all the wavelengths of light can fully penetrate the liquid, as there are too many water molecules in the way of the photons. The water molecules absorb all the red wavelengths from the light, making it reflect blue. This is also why shallower waters appear 'less' or lighter blue than deeper ones- less absorption means less reflection.

Robert D. He served in the U. Navy for more than 30 years and continues to work with the Office of Naval Research. A pioneer in the development of deep-sea submersibles and remotely operated vehicle systems, he has taken part in more than deep-sea expeditions. In , he discovered the RMS Titanic , and has succeeded in tracking down numerous other significant shipwrecks, including the German battleship Bismarck , the lost fleet of Guadalcanal, the U.

He is known for his research on the ecology and evolution of fauna in deep-ocean hydrothermal, seamount, canyon and deep trench systems. He has conducted more than 60 scientific expeditions in the Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Sunita L. Her research explores how the larvae of seafloor invertebrates such as anemones and sea stars disperse to isolated, island-like habitats, how larvae settle and colonize new sites, and how their communities change over time.

Kirstin also has ongoing projects in the Arctic and on coral reefs in Palau. Her work frequently takes her underwater using remotely operated vehicles and SCUBA and carries her to the far corners of the world.

Know your Ocean: Did you know? Why the ocean is blue? Why are corals so colorful? Find out more. Does the ocean produce oxygen? What causes ocean waves? Why is pressure different in the ocean? We use cookies to analyze site usage and improve user experience. By continuing on this site, you consent to their use. Read our Privacy Policy for more info and to amend settings. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website.

Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies.

Some people believe the Caribbean waters are cleaner and contain less pollution. That can certainly be true and have an impact. However, the colors are much more likely a result of the particular characteristics of the body of water in question. For example, the plant life that exists in many Caribbean waters can contribute to more green light being reflected back.

Some Caribbean waters that are exceptionally beautiful also tend to be more shallow. In addition, the composition of the ocean floor can have an effect. The ocean floor in the Caribbean often contains coral , which can reflect light differently than the sands found in many other areas. Sunlight is definitely a factor in why the ocean appears blue, billy joe bob! Thank you for joining the discussion. Awesome, Taneeyah! Come back and Wonder with us soon! We've explored glass before, but we're not exactly sure why glass is clear.

We encourage you to research the chemical makeup of glass --online or at your library-- to learn what makes it clear! We hope this Wonder helped explain ocean colors! Hi, brittnye! This Wonder was nominated by kyra. We encourage you to explore the Wonder Sources listed to learn more! Hi, Nate! We actually have that exact Wonder! Wonder Why Is the Sky Blue? We encourage you to explore the answer at your library!

Hi, Lawrence! The ocean is blue because of how it absorbs sunlight. We hope you stop back by Wonderopolis soon! Hey, Wonder Friend Sian Pi! The ocean is mostly variations of the color blue. We are undergoing some spring clearing site maintenance and need to temporarily disable the commenting feature.

Thanks for your patience. Drag a word to its definition. You have answered 0 of 3 questions correctly and your score is:. Want to add a little wonder to your website? Help spread the wonder of families learning together. We sent you SMS, for complete subscription please reply.