Rayleigh scattering by aqueous colloidal silica as a cause for the blue color of hydrothermal water

Ohsawa, Shinji; Kawamura, Takao; Takamatsu, Nobuki; Yusa, Yoichi

doi:10.1016/s0377-0273(01)00250-5

Cited by 26 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…An inspection of a water sample of Río Celeste reveals a transparent appearance, indicating that the sky-blue color is due to a phenomenon involving a large portion of the water body (see box in figure 1c). Much speculation about the reasons for the characteristic sky-blue color has arisen, such as the presence of copper ions being responsible for blue tints and the dispersion of radiation generated by the presence of minerals in suspension [8]–[10]. The latter is established as the cause for most acid volcanic lakes and hydrothermal waters that present unusual water colors, such as brilliant blue, greenish blue, and cloudy emerald green [8]–[10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Much speculation about the reasons for the characteristic sky-blue color has arisen, such as the presence of copper ions being responsible for blue tints and the dispersion of radiation generated by the presence of minerals in suspension [8]–[10]. The latter is established as the cause for most acid volcanic lakes and hydrothermal waters that present unusual water colors, such as brilliant blue, greenish blue, and cloudy emerald green [8]–[10]. Because of their striking colors, these sites are typically famous sightseeing attractions, such as Lake Goshikinuma in Japan; Lake KawahPutih in Indonesia and Yellowstone Hot Springs in USA.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Scattering of Light by Colloidal Aluminosilicate Particles Produces the Unusual Sky-Blue Color of Río Celeste (Tenorio Volcano Complex, Costa Rica)

et al. 2013

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Río Celeste (Sky-Blue River) in Tenorio National Park (Costa Rica), a river that derives from the confluence and mixing of two colorless streams—Río Buenavista (Buenavista River) and Quebrada Agria (Sour Creek)—is renowned in Costa Rica because it presents an atypical intense sky-blue color. Although various explanations have been proposed for this unusual hue of Río Celeste, no exhaustive tests have been undertaken; the reasons hence remain unclear. To understand this color phenomenon, we examined the physico-chemical properties of Río Celeste and of the two streams from which it is derived. Chemical analysis of those streams with ion-exchange chromatography (IC) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) made us discard the hypothesis that the origin of the hue is due to colored chemical species. Our tests revealed that the origin of this coloration phenomenon is physical, due to suspended aluminosilicate particles (with diameters distributed around 566 nm according to a lognormal distribution) that produce Mie scattering. The color originates after mixing of two colorless streams because of the enlargement (by aggregation) of suspended aluminosilicate particles in the Río Buenavista stream due to a decrease of pH on mixing with the acidic Quebrada Agria. We postulate a chemical mechanism for this process, supported by experimental evidence of dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential measurements, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive spectra (EDS). Theoretical modeling of the Mie scattering yielded a strong coincidence between the observed color and the simulated one.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scattering of Light by Colloidal Aluminosilicate Particles Produces the Unusual Sky-Blue Color of Río Celeste (Tenorio Volcano Complex, Costa Rica)

et al. 2013

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“…This indicates that particles larger than 0.7 lm contribute to the absorption and scattering in the lake. In addition, the c(k) of filtrates under 0.1 lm was almost 0 m -1 , which means the following: (1) the small particles (\0.1 lm), which cause the Rayleigh scattering observed by Ohsawa et al (2002) and Onda et al (2003), do not exist in the lake, and (2) the dissolved matter, such as ferrous ions (observed by Onda et al 2003), do not contribute to the absorption of light in the water body (i.e., a d (k) = 0 m -1 ). Figure 5 shows the absorption spectra of TSS (a p (k)), non-phytoplanktonic particles (a n (k)) and phytoplankton (a ph (k)) at St. 1 and 2 ( Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The colors are mainly due to the high concentrations of mineral ions that originated from hydrothermal waters (Oue et al 1998;Ohsawa et al 2002;Onda et al 2003). Ohsawa et al (2002) investigated the blue coloration of a hydrothermal pond in Beppu, Japan, using qualitative colorimetric analysis and performed synthesis experiments to reproduce the blue color. The results showed that the coloration was caused by Rayleigh scattering of aqueous colloidal silica particles with 0.1-0.45-lm diameter.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulation of water colors in a shallow acidified lake, Lake Onneto, Japan, using colorimetric analysis and bio-optical modeling

Oyama

Shibahara

2009

Limnology

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Lake Onneto has unusually brilliant water colors, such as blue-green, green, and greenish yellow. We investigated the coloration mechanism in this lake by measuring the radiometric water color and inherent optical properties (IOPs), such as attenuation, absorption, and scattering coefficients of color-producing agents (CPAs) in the lake. The hue of the water body was determined using colorimetric analysis. In addition, the radiometric water color of the lake was simulated using bio-optical modeling. Results showed that the hues of the water body were different between two sampling stations (blue-green and green at 3.1 and 5.5 m of bottom depth, respectively). However, the total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations were almost identical between the two stations (0.47 and 0.42 mg l -1 , respectively). In addition, the attenuation and absorption coefficients showed that the CPAs in the water body were only inorganic suspended solids (ISS) more than 0.7 lm in diameter, and specific CPAs, such as dissolved mineral ions and aqueous colloids, were not observed in the lake. Simulation of the radiometric water color showed that the radiation around 600 nm of wavelength (yellow region) steeply increased with decreasing bottom depth, indicating that the water colors of Lake Onneto are strongly governed by the light reflection from yellowish bottom sediments.

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“…Because the silica content estimated from a semiquantitative analysis of the XRF data is greater than 90%, the mud suspended in the lake water is expected to be extremely altered lake sediment raised by the subaqueous phreatic eruption. Colloidal silica with less than 0.45 lm particle size is also a causative material for water bluing by Rayleigh scattering (Ohsawa et al 2002). Therefore, the blue of the lake water on 4 August 2003 is not caused by aqueous colloidal sulfur (14 mg/l), but will be caused exceptionally by aqueous colloidal silica.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Color change of lake water at the active crater lake of Aso volcano, Yudamari, Japan: is it in response to change in water quality induced by volcanic activity?

et al. 2009

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One feature of volcanic lakes influenced by subaqueous fumaroles existing at lake bottoms (called active crater lakes) is the remarkable color of their waters: turquoise or emerald green. The active crater lake named Yudamari at Mt. Nakadake of Aso volcano, Japan, takes on a milky pale blue-green. The particular blue component of the lake water color results from Rayleigh scattering of sunlight by very fine aqueous colloidal sulfur particles; the green component is attributable to absorption of sunlight by dissolved ferrous ions. An objective color observation conducted during 2000-2007 revealed that the lake water color changed from blue-green to solid green. The disappearance of the blue ingredient of the water color will result in diminution of aqueous colloidal sulfur from chemical analyses of lake waters sampled simultaneously. The aqueous sulfur is produced by the reaction of sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide supplied from subaqueous fumaroles. However, its production efficiency decreases by domination of sulfur dioxide in the subaqueous fumarolic sulfur gas species with increasing subaqueous fumarolic temperature. The disappearance of blue ingredients from the blue-green color of the lake water may be attributed to activation of subaqueous fumarole activity.

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Rayleigh scattering by aqueous colloidal silica as a cause for the blue color of hydrothermal water

Cited by 26 publications

References 6 publications

Scattering of Light by Colloidal Aluminosilicate Particles Produces the Unusual Sky-Blue Color of Río Celeste (Tenorio Volcano Complex, Costa Rica)

Scattering of Light by Colloidal Aluminosilicate Particles Produces the Unusual Sky-Blue Color of Río Celeste (Tenorio Volcano Complex, Costa Rica)

Simulation of water colors in a shallow acidified lake, Lake Onneto, Japan, using colorimetric analysis and bio-optical modeling

Color change of lake water at the active crater lake of Aso volcano, Yudamari, Japan: is it in response to change in water quality induced by volcanic activity?

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