Summary
Scientists have figured out the reason behind the red-stained water known as Blood Falls in Antarctica. This happens because iron-rich salty water occasionally flows from underneath the Taylor Glacier, gets exposed to air, and causes the distinctive red color.
Key Facts
- Blood Falls is an area in Antarctica where red-stained water emerges from the Taylor Glacier.
- This phenomenon was first discovered in 1911 by geologist Thomas Griffith Taylor.
- The red color is due to iron-rich brine that oxidizes when exposed to air.
- Scientists found that changes in glacier surface pressure and hidden water movement are linked to this event.
- In 2018, using GPS data, cameras, and thermistors, they observed the glacier's surface sink and then recover.
- The study noted a 0.6-inch drop in the glacier's surface and a decrease in its forward movement by around 10%.
- The brine flows from below the glacier when pressure builds up and is released in bursts.
- Researchers suggest continued monitoring to understand the effects of environmental changes on these occurrences.
