Whether we’re marvelling at the fiery shade of an autumn leaf or awestruck by the first colour photograph of our planet from space, the colours of our home planet are endlessly compelling. Now a new book by aerial photographer Bernhard Edmaier, called EarthArt: Colours of the Earth, gathers images of over 150 earthly phenomena into colour-coded chapters. We have selected five of our favourites, along with the accompanying explanations of how the distinct hues captured were crafted by nature. Sandrine Ceurstemont
Landeyjarsandur, Iceland
It looks like water on fire. A stream carrying iron oxides, responsible for its unusual colour, has painted orange over the surrounding area as it flows into the sea. The black volcanic sand, typical of Iceland’s southern coast, reveals the ripples on the beach.
Crozon peninsula, Brittany, France
Graffiti artists haven’t sprayed this rock yellow: it’s the result of chemical weathering. Twice a day at high tide, the rock is covered with water. Iron compounds are released that react with oxygen to produce the yellow iron hydroxide in this close-up photo. Water dripping in caves can also produce such naturally occurring art.
Laguna Roja, Andes, Chile
A plateau filled with hot red water looks like it contains a pool of blood – but it’s a different kind of life that creates this scarlet hue. Located in a desolate mountain region near the volcano Parinacota, this pool of water can reach 50 °C – a cosy environment for red algae that thrive in hot conditions.
Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy
Hot lava lurks behind a rocky crust. Lava was once thought to etch channels by melting rock and washing it away, but thanks to observations of lava rivers on Etna, we now know that the molten mass behaves more like a glacier, eroding rock that stands in its path.
Eyjafjallajökull volcano, Iceland
When Eyjafjallajökull erupted in April 2010, grey ash clouds rose to fill the sky. Black streams then formed on the glacier as large particles fell back down. The eruption is thought to have been caused by the volcano’s odd plumbing, which contains a series of chambers, and the mixing of two types of magma. Volcanologists are forecasting more Icelandic bangs in the next decade.
