Now, mystery behind red tinge in Antarctica’s Blood Falls is solved

The distinctive appearance of Antarctica’s ‘Blood Falls’ have remained a mystery until now. Scientists recently in the Journal of Glaciology have revealed how the water got its colour. And for those wondering, no it isn’t because of blood.

As per studies conducted by National Geographic , the red tinge, which scientists originally assumed came from a particular species of algae, actually comes from brine containing vast amounts of iron.

Researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Colorado College solved the century-long mystery by using radar to scan the layers of ice producing the “bloody” free-flowing water, along with echolocation to determine where, exactly, the water flowed.

University of Alaska Fairbanks glaciologist Erin Pettit told Phys.org the discovery means the Blood Falls “is now the coldest known glacier to have persistently flowing water” on the planet.

The scientists also revealed that despite being the one of the coldest places in the world, the water doesn’t freeze because of a ‘perpetual hydraulic system’ underneath the glacier where freezing water releases heat energy, which in turn melts the surrounding ice.

This system of freezing and melting is further perpetuated by the water’s particularly salty consistency, which means the water freezes at a lower temperature than pure water, …read more