Capital Berg

Keeps People Up-To-Date

Thursday, September 16, 2021
Log in

The Multi toned hot springs of Yellowstone were once Blue

By

Multi-toned-springs-yellowstone

Scientists have confirmed that the multi hued hot springs in the Yellowstone National Park were Blue once.

The change in color is associated with the trash and pollution done by the tourists. These ponds were of deep blue color back in 1872 when Yellowstone was made a National Park.

Scientists have found that the color of these springs were not as they were many years ago. Now we can see them in the combination of red, yellow, green and blue depending upon the time they are observed.

The researchers from Montana State University made a study to find the reason behind this diversity in color. The study lead by Paul W. Nugent of Montana State University has already been published in the journal Applied Optics, have reconstructed the spectral history of Yellowstone’s Morning Glory Pool, Grand Prismatic Spring and Sapphire Pool.

Researchers explained that the reason behind the orange, yellow, and bright green color in the Morning Glory Pool is actually the microbial mats or complex community of bacteria. But originally the color of the water was originally deep blue.

The change in colors are actually brought upon by human activities like throwing trash and coins into these geothermal ponds.

Unique coloration prevalent amongst the Thermal pools in Yellowstone National Park mainly due to Tourists

By

Thermal-pools-in-Yellowstone-National-Park

Studies have confirmed that the popular thermal pools in the Yellowstone National park have undergone rapid changes in coloration over the last century or so which is mainly contributed by tourists. The park came into existence because of these hot springs in the first place so it can be said that they are the main center of attraction for tourists and therefore have been left at their mercy as well.

Yellowstone is one of the largest parks maintained by the U.S. National Park Service. It stretches across the three states of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. The park was also America’s first and is under government protection since its inception way back in the last quarter of the 19th century.

It has drawn out large crowds since its very inception, but researchers stated recently that these large crowds have contributed a lot in destabilizing the natural ecosystem of the park.

Researchers stated that the hot springs of Yellowstone owe their natural colors and beauty to the pollution. But excessive human interactions have brought about a rapid change to their colors over time. Even the slightest amount of pollution over the better part of the last century due to visitors has imparted a great change on the coloration of the hot springs in the park.

The rainbow colors now associated with the hot springs of the park can be largely traced to the pollution coming from the tourists and the surrounding atmosphere.

Categories