Why are some icebergs green? © Getty Images

Why are some icebergs green?

Some icebergs are a surprising emerald green hue instead of the usual bluish tint, currently attributed to the iron oxide minerals deposited in the ocean by glaciers.

Asked by: Robin Thomas, Newport Pagnell


Most icebergs have a bluish tinge because the ice absorbs longer wavelengths of visible light (reds) better than shorter ones (blues), reflecting more blue light back towards our eyes. However, some Antarctic icebergs are a striking emerald green, and have long puzzled scientists.

The latest theory is that these ‘jade bergs’ are caused by iron oxide minerals in the ocean. As glaciers move over the Antarctic mainland, they scrape its rocky surface, producing powdered rock rich in iron oxides that’s eventually carried into the sea. Scientists believe that pockets of the resulting iron-rich water then freeze onto the underside of icebergs, with the combination of orange-tinted iron oxide and blue ice producing a deep green hue.

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