Volcanic Lake turns from blue to red.

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Sheryl
Posts: 8498
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 3:08 am

Volcanic Lake turns from blue to red.

Post by Sheryl »

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A lake atop a rumbling volcano on the South Pacific island of Ambae has changed color from blue to bright red, puzzling scientists.



Mount Manaro, one of four active volcanos on the island nation of Vanuatu, has been showing signs of erupting for only the second time in 122 years.

"We are still ... trying to understand this change of color in the lake from blue to red," Geology and Mines Department director Esline Garae said by telephone Monday from Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila.

She said two scientists on Ambae Island were monitoring Lake Vui as well as seismic activity on the 5,000-foot Mount Manaro.

If the change of color "comes from new activity in the ground or just chemical change in the lake — these are two things I want to know from those guys before I can say anything" about the danger posed by the volcano, she said.

Mount Manaro last erupted in November 2005, forcing half the island's 10,000 inhabitants to evacuate their villages. An 1884 eruption killed scores of villagers.

New Zealand volcanologist Brad Scott said Lake Vui's color was "quite a spectacular red," but what had caused it "is the $64,000-question."

He said water samples from the lake would help determine what was happening in the crater and below it.

The color change could be a chemical process or gas from molten volcanic rock or something else coming into the lake, he said.

Three other volcanos in Vanuatu — Lopevi, Yasur and a two-crater volcano on Ambryn Island called Marum and Benbow — have spewed rocks, ash, smoke and steam in recent weeks.

Vanuatu, formerly the New Hebrides Islands, is made up of 13 main islands located about 1,400 miles east of Australia.



Is it just me or is the earth really rocking and rolling lately?
"Girls are crazy! I'm not ever getting married, I can make my own sandwiches!"

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Sheryl
Posts: 8498
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 3:08 am

Volcanic Lake turns from blue to red.

Post by Sheryl »

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060529/ap_ ... NlYwM3NTM-

here's a link to the story, but there's no pictures. :(
"Girls are crazy! I'm not ever getting married, I can make my own sandwiches!"

my son
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Rapunzel
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Joined: Thu May 12, 2005 5:47 pm

Volcanic Lake turns from blue to red.

Post by Rapunzel »

An intrusion of iron oxide is the only thing I can think of which would turn the water red.

There must be a fissure at the bottom of the lake into which some oxidated material must be oozing.
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Adam Zapple
Posts: 977
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2005 3:13 am

Volcanic Lake turns from blue to red.

Post by Adam Zapple »

And we worry about global warming. Run for your lives!:driving:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/19 ... noes.shtml
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