I’m sure you are aware that Perito Moreno is one of the most renowned glaciers in Patagonia. One of the reasons for its fame is that it continues to grow, or at least it is not melting. It is also a remarkable display of nature, with enormous ice blocks falling into the lake with a thunderous crash. But do you know why the Perito Moreno Glacier appears blue?
The Perito Moreno Glacier appears blue because of the way that ice absorbs and reflects light. Ice appears white because it reflects all colors of light equally. However, as light penetrates deeper into the ice, longer-wavelength colors, like red and yellow, are absorbed, while shorter-wavelength colors, like blue, are transmitted and scattered back out. This scattering of blue light gives the ice its characteristic blue hue. Additionally, the compactness and density of glacial ice also contributes to the blue color, as it can absorb other colors and reflect primarily blue light.
