MSGID: 1:317/3 62716de4   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    EPOD - a service of USRA   
      
   The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes   
   and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and   
   archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory   
   captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The   
   community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and   
   relevant links.   
      
      
    Rainbow Swamp   
      
      May 03, 2022   
      
       6E91DB78-18F2-4DE8-B59E-005515A3B5A5   
      
      Photographer:  Daniel Widner   
      
      Summary Authors:  Daniel Widner;  Cadan Cummings   
      
      The photo above features two types of rainbow effects, one an artifact   
      of the camera and the other a unique  biological process. As part of   
      the  nutrient cycle,  swamps are constantly growing and recycling   
      energy and matter. When a plant dies or leaves drop in the fall, the   
      vegetation begins decaying before eventually bacteria and other   
       decomposers break it down to acquire nutrients they need to   
      survive. In the case of the swamp above, natural oils were produced by   
      decomposing vegetation as well as possible from  anaerobic bacteria   
      reducing iron in the soil. This resulted in a thin film being created   
      on the surface of the swamp, visible as a rainbow of different pastel   
      hues. For the multicolored layer to be so noticeable, the waters must   
      have been still long enough for the oils to separate out of the water.   
      
      Visible in the top of the image is an equally colorful  lens flare   
      caused by an internal reflection within the camera. This type of image   
      artifact is common under bright light and highly reflective conditions.   
      Although inadvertent, the lens flare gives the photo a unique look   
      combined with this already colorful and unusual microbial process.   
        * Charles City County, Virginia Coordinates: 37.402, -77.148   
      
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   -   
      Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the  Universities   
      Space Research Association.   
      
   https://epod.usra.edu   
       
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