Polarised light photograph of a stalagmite. Under polarised light the ice appears to have many colours within it. These indicate strong internal tensi

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Polarised light photograph of a stalagmite. Under polarised light the ice appears to have many colours within it. These indicate strong internal tensions; a result of the outer layers freezing before the inner regions & therefore introducing stress into the crystal structure. In comparison water appears colourless under polarised light because there are no constraints imposed & hence no tensions. In the centre of the stalagmite gas bubbles can be seen. The gas was once dissolved in the water, but became fixed in frozen bubbles when the water became ice.

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Size: 4978px × 3580px
Photo credit: © CLAUDE NURIDSANY & MARIE PERENNOU/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: climate, cold, frozen, ice, light, meteorology, micrograph, plm, polarised, stalagmite, weather, winter