Scientists Uncover Secrets Behind Antarctica's Crimson Blood Falls

Photo byPhoto by Kitera Dent on Unsplash

Blood Falls, located in East Antarctica's Taylor Glacier, is known for its striking crimson waters that flow intermittently from fissures into Lake Bonney. The waterfall, which contrasts vividly with the glacier’s pristine white ice, was first documented by explorer Thomas Griffith Taylor during the Terra Nova expedition in 1911. Taylor’s name was given to the glacier and Taylor Valley, into which the glacier flows.

Initially, the red colouration of the falls was thought to be due to red algae. However, it is now understood to result from the interaction of iron-rich water with oxygen in the air, causing the distinctive red hue. This water is salty, indicating a separate briny source within the glacier.

In 2017, scientists discovered that this briny reservoir is approximately 1,300 feet (400 meters) beneath the glacier and 300 feet (90 meters) from the visible waterfall. This reservoir is believed to be remnants of ancient seawater that flooded the McMurdo Dry Valleys, including Taylor Valley before the glacier formed. The timing of this flooding event is estimated to be between 5.5 million and 20,000 years ago.

Despite the glacier’s overall stability at subfreezing temperatures, the water in the reservoir remains liquid. This is due to the heat released during the freezing process of the glacier ice, which warms the surrounding area, and salty water requires colder temperatures to freeze compared to fresh water. Taylor Glacier is noted for being the coldest glacier with persistently flowing water, highlighting its unique geophysical conditions.