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Salt Flats

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science1 month ago•5 min saved

NASA Captures a 10-km Pink Heart Over Argentina's Salt Flats

NASA's Earth Observatory released a striking image of a roughly 10-km-wide pink heart in Salinas Las Barrancas, Argentina, photographed from the International Space Station on January 16, 2024. The pink color comes from carotenoids produced by the microalga Dunaliella salina under intense light and high salinity; as evaporation raises salinity, dying cells feed halophilic archaea and bacteria that intensify the hue. The lake is an active salt-extraction site and the heart's shape is a geological accident, reflecting seasonal changes in this shallow brine environment.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#argentina #dunaliella-salina #earth-observation

science3 years ago•3 min saved

Unveiling the Science of Earth's Salt Flats.

Researchers have characterized two different types of surface water in the hyperarid salt flats that contain much of the world's lithium deposits. This new characterization represents a leap forward in understanding how water moves through such basins, and will be key to minimizing the environmental impact on such sensitive, critical habitats. The study found that not all water in the salar is the same, and it's important to treat terminal and transitional pools differently, which means paying more attention to where the water in the pools comes from and how long it takes to get there.

via Phys.org|

#ecosystems #hydrogeology #lithium