The ice on portions of Michigan's Great Lakes has turned blue and photographers are in awe. The phenomenon happens when lake water freezes slowly and evenly, resulting in ice composed of large crystals. Light travels deeper into slowly formed ice, allowing some of the red wavelengths of sunlight — which is the longest wavelength of visible light — to get absorbed into the ice structure. The blue — which is the shortest wavelength of visible light — bounces back out, meets our eyes, and results in a deep aqua color.
Topics Nature
