why does the ocean turn red/orange?
104484
Occasionally, the algae grow very fast or "bloom" and accumulate into dense, visible patches near the surface of the water. "Red Tide" is a common name for such a phenomenon where certain phytoplankton species contain reddish pigments and "bloom" such that the water appears to be colored red.
371401
The sky has no color. The color that you see depends on the reflections from the ocean and other bodies of water and the suns ability to cause a reflection on the water.
245478
yes, and there is a reason, it was in a Readers Digest a while back 1980's, but if memory serves it has to do with where a storm front is, if one is just leaving and high pressure system is replacing it, you will see vividly red skies at night, if one is just coming in replacing a high pressure system (which usually is good weather) you will see vividly red skies in the morning.  Keep in mind that this is 22 years ago.\n\nJust found this on the net:\n\nA red sunset is often seen when the western sky is especially clear. The colour occurs because the sun is low in the sky, and its light passes through additional atmosphere. The colour is enhanced if a stable high pressure region is present. The reason for this is that high pressure suppresses cloud formation and holds air pollutants near the Earth. These pollutants further scatter the colours of sunlight, enhancing the reddening effect in the west.\n\nSince high pressure generally brings good weather, red skies in the evening often indicate that fair weather is approaching from the west. On the other hand, if the red appears in the eastern morning sky, then the high pressure region has already passed through. Since lower pressure usually follows a high pressure system, and is often associated with unsettled weather, red sky in the morning can indicate stormy weather. \nhttp://www.scienceshorts.com/020514.htm\n\nNot bad for remembering something from 22 years ago.
885028
There are different occurances in nature that are labelled "Red Tide". \n\nOne is caused by an over abundance of plankton in the ocean. This makes the water stinky and could make you sick if ingested.  \n\nThe other is caused by chemicals used by farmers to get rid of pests. It drains down into the ground water and eventually ends up in the ocean. It kills just about anything living in the water.
307489
It's because of something called the Coriolis effect, which is due to the earth's rotation. (First reference).  The basic idea is that, because the earth is rotating fastest at the equator, things moving north or south feel a slight deflection to the west or east.\n\nAir spirals into the center of a hurricane. So, imagine a lump of air that starts to the north of the hurricane's center. As that air moves south, it's going to enter areas where the earth is moving slightly faster. Since the earth spins toward the east, this lump of air will fall behind slightly, and, from our point of view, move towards the west.  A lump of air starting on the south of the hurricane, sees the reverse: it moves north, and is thus moving slightly faster to the east than the hurricane center. \n\nIn the southern hemisphere, this is reversed, and cyclones there spin clockwise.
844403
The reason why sea water is salty is of course because of the presence of salt. However, how does it get into the ocean?? \n\nAs water evaporates, it rises and cools and becomes clouds. It then falls off as rain. These are fresh water as the process is like distillation. As you may know, water is a pretty good solvent and as it washes down the ground, it dissolves small amount of minerals, which includes salt, NaCl.\n\nAs you know, water does not just stay on the ground, it flows from high place to low, carry all these minerals with it. As it moves to the lowest point on earth, there is no where to go, so it accumulates. As time goes on, it forms ocean. As this process continues, all the salts are washes into the ocean with no exit, as a result, make the ocean more and more salty.\n\nThe dead sea, is indeed the lowest level on earth, and is indeed the most salty sea. The water density is so high (because it has so much salt in it) that almost anything can float on it.
829824
If this all was true, the waters off the EAST coast would be higher, since Earth spins toward the east. \nHowever; even the ocean has areas of higher/lower elevation, according to Topex Dynamic Ocean Topography.\nhttp://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/OCEAN_PLANET/MOVIES/Topex_Dynamic_Ocean_Topography.mpg\nBut there, around NZ, the ocean does not show higher elevation; it's at a normal  level.
630748
The more wind the higher the waves.\n\nWhen wind blows over the ocean's surface, it creates waves. Their size depends on how far, how fast and how long the wind blows. A brief, gently breeze forms patches of tiny ripples on the surface called catspaws; strong, steady winds over long distances create large waves. But even when you feel no wind at all, you may encounter large swells created by distant storms.
174421
A contrast of saltiness in water (halocline) can form in the ocean, because there is a tendency for less dense fresher water to float on top of denser saltier water. This happens for example when a river (fresh water) discharges into the ocean.\nThermocline forms when water at the surface of an ocean or lake is heated up, while the water below stays cool
192425
there are two reasons for the color of the sea:\n\nA. the sea reflects the sky.\nyou have probably noticed that the sea is not very blue-looking when the sky is overcast. water reflects and scatters the light that strikes it; this is shown by the fact that you can see your reflection in puddles. when the sky is brilliant blue, the sea is also, because it reflects the blue of the sky. \n\nB. blue light is more easily bent, or refracted, than red light. thus, light refracted back from the surface of the sea appears blue. furthermore, when you are underwater the water around you appears blue because more blue light is scattered back to your eye than red light.
860854
The average Ocean pH is slightly on the caustic side.\n\nThis enables the growth of coral reefs which are basically composed of Calcium Carbonate.\n\nCoral reefs provide a haven for marine life which in turn provides food for not only for other marine life but also provides food for humans.\n\nDeforestation by Third World countries contributes to the increase of atmospheric Carbon Dioxide which in turn makes the oceans more acidic.\n\nThis is far more that all the carbon dioxide produced by world industry.\n\nThis, unfortunately, is either not known or not admitted to, by the "Kumbaya" wing of the Democrats or the Major Media.
1054336
The rainbow would be the same. it is caused when WHITE light is broken by a prism, like the water droplets. \n\nthe sea color would be a dark tint of red because the water reflects the sky(not really sure about this one but it's worth a guess.)
744888
Actually, the most recent scientific explanation for this is "Rogue Waves."  I read this in a recent article in the Science Times section of the NYTimes.  I will try to find the article for you.\n\nBut, basically, due to the geography of this area, the water temperature, wind currents & importantly ocean currents, this area is more prone to huge Rogue waves (which can often be 60-100 ft in height and can occur even with normal (i.e. non-stormy) weather patterns.  (and with no warning).   They have recently installed some monitoring devices in these areas to try to warn ships/cruisers that travel in these areas.\n\nEdit:  These articles should help you + they have some cool pictures.\nhttp://www.damninteresting.com/?p=701\nhttp://www.physorg.com/news77381892.html\nhttp://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/11/science/11wave.html?ei=5090&en=d5cdc1cbc2182342&ex=1310270400&partner=rssuserland&pagewanted=print\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freak_wave
826959
The basic answer to that is:\nAs water falls on land and runs into the oceans it picks up minerals.\nWhen it gets to the ocean the minerals get mixed into the ocean water.\nSunlight causes the water to evaporate but leaves the minerals behind.\nThe water then falls on land again repeating the process.\nEventually the salt content in the oceans built up to where it is today. And continues to build up.
988375
I think it has to do with when lightening hits the surface of the water it dis purses, and weakens!!  The lightening stays on the surface!!  Have a Great Day!  MB
420013
Yes there are tides on the open ocean.  The change in tide can greatly effect the size and frequency of waves.  It can also make storm waves worse.
708647
The main reason why the Atlantic coast is more stormy than the Pacific coast (as in Hurricanes, Nor'Easters, etc.) is the fact that a warm water current called the gulf stream happens to flow from south to north up the Atlantic Coast.  This provide much more energy for storms to use as they approach land.  Also, the prevailing winds in the tropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere happen to be from east to west, thus pushing tropical moisture toward much of the Gulf coast region and pushing stroms, like Hurricanes, from the Mid-Atlantic toward the East Coast.