Found: The Clearest Ocean Waters On Earth

New Scientist ^ | 6-29-2007 | Catherine Brahic

[wardaddy]

the deep blue cobalt of the deep water Caribbean like Batletts Deep or Cayman Trench was always some of my favorite water color

almost inky with foamy top....very contrasted...much more so than say green gulf or north atlantic water or the light blue of the Med or turquoise of the Adriatic..

don’t know Pacific as well granted

[Alter Kaker]

The clearer the water, the deader it is.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

Photochemistry and Photobiology

Article: pp. 389–397 | Full Text | PDF (108K)
Penetration of Ultraviolet Radiation in the Marine Environment. A Review

Marc Tedetti, Richard Sempéré

Laboratoire de Microbiologie Géochimie et Ecologie Marines, CNRS/INSU, UMR 6117, Centre d’Océanologie de Marseille, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France

UV radiation (UVR) is a significant ecological factor in the marine environment that can have important effects on planktonic organisms and dissolved organic matter (DOM). The penetration of UVR into the water column is likely to change in the near future due to interactions between global warming and ozone depletion......snip
http://www.bioone.org/perlserv/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1562%2F2005-11-09-IR-733
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I KNEW there was a “global warming” in there, LOL....just had to google it with his name....

[wardaddy]

I read that too...

God save plankton

[Slicksadick]

The violet water picture from the article....

[SampleMan]

Beautiful but barren

AKA Liberal Utopia

[Kay Ludlow]

Interesting article. I’m not any environmental scientists, but something like this makes me wonder whether there is some kind of volcanic activity underneath, maybe venting of gasses periodically, that kills the carbon life forms then dissipates in an ongoing cycle. That could be working in conjunction with the low current activity to keep the area lifeless.

Back in the 70’s, didn’t they say some of the Great Lakes were dead? I don’t recall hearing that they were sparkling clear though...

[Citizen Tom Paine]

In the ocean, blue is the color of very low biological productivity. Greenish grey is the color of high biological activity. Blue is the desert color of the ocean.

[Does so]

How about brown? Every time a cruiser goes by my lakefront cottage, the water roils from clear to brown.

[Reeses]

I’m not buying that purple ocean color. It looks photoshop adjusted. It’s a shame nothing published can be trusted anymore.

[RightWhale]

English Channel is green and you can see the sand on the bottom.

[Hot Tabasco]

The clearer the water, the deader it is.

I didn't know that but how does that explain the best diving spots in the world where the water is crystal clear but teeming with aquatic life?

[steveo]

and Mr. Crabs too!

[colorado tanker]

This looks like it’s a little south of where El Ninos form. I wonder if there’s any connection?

[Alter Kaker]

I didn't know that but how does that explain the best diving spots in the world where the water is crystal clear but teeming with aquatic life?

Except for reefs, they aren't teeming with aquatic life, because warm water contains much less dissolved oxygen than cold water. And even coral reefs support many fewer organisms than, say, the North Atlanic. The fish tend to be more colorful, and the diversity is greater, and, of course, you can see them easier. But tropical waters are, for the most part, an aquatic desert. That's why all the best fishing grounds are in cold waters.

[Hot Tabasco]

Thanks, I didn’t know that....

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

and Mr. Crabs too!

ROFL! I just snorted a bottle of Leinie's beer through my nose.

[Lurker]

I just snorted a bottle of Leinie's beer through my nose.

That's better than actually drinking a Leinie...

L

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Are you kidding? Once you go Leinie, you’ll never crack a Heine(ken)! :-)