Earth's oceans were once green and could one day turn purple

The blue may be temporary

Photo collage of sea waves tinted green, blue, and purple.
The ocean can change color depending on its chemistry
(Image credit: Illustration by Julia Wytrazek / Getty Images)

The deep blue sea may not have always been so blue. A new study suggests that the Earth’s oceans may have changed color over time and could change again in the future, depending on the chemical makeup of the water.

Pale green dot

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Devika Rao, The Week US

 Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.