The Earth Story

Champagne Pool This geothermal pool is located on New Zealand’s North Island. The hot spring below the pool has temperatures of up to 260°C; however, the pool’s water varies in between 69-74°C. The pool holds its name due to the carbon dioxide content of the water which creates small bubbles (like the ones seen in a glass of champagne). The orange ring around the pool in the image occurs due to deposits of metalloids (a substance with a mixture of properties of both metals and non-metals) in the water such as stibnite. The water from the champagne Pool also feeds the Artist's Palette. The Artist's Palette is another geothermal pool; however, the water in this pool has a yellow tinge due to sulphur deposition. ~SA http://bit.ly/1UfYaGw by Christian Mehlführer

The landscapes of North Island, New Zealand.

Tour of New Zealand. Original caption:

- Narration: Alan Watts - Music: Fabrizio Paterlini "My Misty Mornings" - Gear: Sony A7sii, 24-70mm 2.8, DJI Mavic Pro

Original caption:

Fully the first half of this video is night sky timelapses, plus some “sea of clouds”, “lone mountain/sunset” shots, volcanoes, beaches, and steeply dipping geology.

Mt Taranaki

Mt Taranaki is a dormant stratovolcano located within Egmont National Park, North Island, New Zealand. Rising to 2,518m in height, the volcano is thought to be one of the most symmetrical cones in the world.

Taranaki hasn't erupted since the 1800s and is now a popular attraction for climbers and hikers. However, the slopes can still play host to danger with avalanches not uncommon during the winter months.

- Watson

Image Credit: Watson Further Reading: http://bit.ly/1jN6dxD

Champagne Pool

This geothermal pool is located on New Zealand’s North Island. The hot spring below the pool has temperatures of up to 260°C; however, the pool’s water varies in between 69-74°C. The pool holds its name due to the carbon dioxide content of the water which creates small bubbles (like the ones seen in a glass of champagne). The orange ring around the pool in the image occurs due to deposits of metalloids (a substance with a mixture of properties of both metals and non-metals) in the water such as stibnite. The water from the champagne Pool also feeds the Artist's Palette. The Artist's Palette is another geothermal pool; however, the water in this pool has a yellow tinge due to sulphur deposition.

~SA

http://bit.ly/1UfYaGw by Christian Mehlführer

The Crack of Doom This is Mount Ngauruhoe, a volcano within Tongariro National Park on New Zealand’s North Island. The peak is a fairly young stratovolcano, built up of alternating lava flows and pyroclastic eruptions with a mostly andesitic composition. The volcano is part of the larger Tongariro volcanic complex and is the largest peak in that group at a height of 2291 meters. It last had a major eruption in 1975, sending out pyroclastic flows that included large blocks of lava that are termed block & ash flows. The volcano has been built over at least the last 2500 years. Written records suggest it has erupted 60 times since the mid-1800s but it has been much quieter since 1975. In 2006 there was a series of earthquakes below this peak, but no eruption took place. It is currently a common target for hikers, but as recent events in Japan have showed us, even seemingly quiet volcanic peaks still can host dangers. This peak of course is being featured here in part because of its other role. This peak played the role of Mount Doom in the filming of the movie “The Return of the King”, part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. -JBB Image credit: Matt Hobbs (Creative Commons) https://www.flickr.com/photos/ultrahi/230061574/ Read more: http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/central-north-island/ruapehu/mount-ngauruhoe-summit-climb/ http://info.geonet.org.nz/display/volc/Ngauruhoe http://www.volcanolive.com/ngauruhoe.html http://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/Learning/Science-Topics/Volcanoes/New-Zealand-Volcanoes/Ngauruhoe http://lifeasageologist.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/finding-mt-dome-mt-ngauruhoe/ http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/national-parks/tongariro/features/central-north-island-volcanoes/

The Waitomo Glow Worm Cave Near the western coast of New Zealand’s North Island sits a province where limestone is exposed to the surface. When limestone is exposed in environments that receive moderate amounts of rainfall, it tends to dissolve, forming caves and a pattern we call karst topography. Caves are a spectacular setting for evolution. Caves can be somewhat isolated, so when organisms get into them, they can find niches with little competition, and the populations of those organisms are small enough to evolve rapidly. The light you see is a unique feature of one species that leads to this site being known as the Waitomo Glow Worm cave. The glowworms are of the species Arachnocampa luminosa, about the size of an average mosquito, native to New Zealand, and an inhabitant of caves and dark areas throughout both islands. This cave has become a famous tourist destination due to the high population of these organisms and the pale light they give off. -JBB Image credit:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/63349090@N08/8720211482 (Creative commons licensed) Read more: http://www.waitomo.com/waitomo-glowworm-caves.aspx http://www.waitomo.com/waitomo-geology.aspx http://www.glowworm.co.nz/geology.html

The Champagne Pool This hot spring is found in an area known as the Waiotapu geothermal area on New Zealand’s North Island. The hot spring sits in a crater 65 meters across and reaches temperatures of ~75℃. The vivid colors around the edge are produced due to elements that are dissolved in the hot waters as they travel through the ground. The waters dissolve arsenic and antimony from the ground as they circulate. When they reach the edge of the pool and cool, those elements precipitate out of the water and form sulfide-rich minerals that give the reddish color. The name Champagne Pool derives from another dissolved compound, carbon dioxide, which dissolves in the water and bubbles up to the surface in the pond. -JBB Image credit: Trey Ratcliff https://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms/4500083965 Read more: http://www.amusingplanet.com/2014/07/champagne-pool-new-zealand.html http://www.newzealand.com/us/plan/business/waiotapu-thermal-wonderland/ http://www.lovethesepics.com/2011/02/the-champagne-pool-new-zealands-stunning-geothermal-wai-o-tapu-wonderland/