The mystery of unusual icebergs has been making scientists puzzle for over 100 years. But there seems to be a hypothesis that could explain their existence.
Icebergs are usually white to light blue in color. But even at the beginning of the 20th century, eyewitness accounts appeared who observed unusual green icebergs. Glaciologists and ecologists have put forward many theories that might explain this. And finally, a reliable hypothesis was found.
The green color of the icebergs is given by iron. More precisely, iron oxides that get into ice from Antarctic soils. Quite a large amount of iron oxides is found in the Emery Ice Shelf in the west of the continent. Most likely, icebergs of unusual color break off from this glacier.
Eco-activists used the 10 Years Challenge to demonstrate how quickly our planet's glaciers are melting. See the gallery! Photo: Smithsonian Magazine
Iron is an essential element for life. It is critical for the development of phytoplankton, which is at the bottom of all marine food webs. However, iron is very scarce in many regions of the ocean. If the hypothesis of green icebergs is confirmed, this would mean that such icebergs play an extremely important role in the iron cycle and the maintenance of marine ecosystems.