Scientists Blame Trash-Throwing Tourists For Morning Glory Pool’s Color Change
- 9 years ago
Scientists who recently looked into the Yellowstone Morning Glory Pool’s color change over the years have cited trash-tossing visitors as being responsible.
People looking at Yellowstone’s famous Morning Glory Pool today may wonder why its particular name was chosen, but prior to 1960 it really did resemble the brilliant blue flower.
Since then its center has transformed to a greenish hue and is surrounded by an orange ring.
Scientists who recently looked into the change have cited trash-tossing visitors as being to blame for the corruption of the hot spring’s coloring and delicate ecosystem.
They approached their analysis from an optics standpoint.
The process involved measuring the water’s spectral reflections in relationship to the structure of microbial communities within.
Between that, the considerations of a few more variables, and some math they were able to generate incredibly accurate renderings of what the hot spring has looked like both in the past and the presen
People looking at Yellowstone’s famous Morning Glory Pool today may wonder why its particular name was chosen, but prior to 1960 it really did resemble the brilliant blue flower.
Since then its center has transformed to a greenish hue and is surrounded by an orange ring.
Scientists who recently looked into the change have cited trash-tossing visitors as being to blame for the corruption of the hot spring’s coloring and delicate ecosystem.
They approached their analysis from an optics standpoint.
The process involved measuring the water’s spectral reflections in relationship to the structure of microbial communities within.
Between that, the considerations of a few more variables, and some math they were able to generate incredibly accurate renderings of what the hot spring has looked like both in the past and the presen