What is the Jewelry bubble?
The Jewelry bubble is a natural phenomenon discovered in February 2019 by an amateur photographer at Lake Kussharo, located in the Okhotsk region of Hokkaido. It was named for the beautiful, multi-colored appearance of air bubbles trapped within the ice covering the lake surface during the harsh winter, observed through a polarizing filter.
Images of Lake Kussharo in the depths of winter.
Here, you can experience not only the Jewelry Bubble phenomenon but also the diverse natural world, including numerous wild birds.
What is the mechanism behind the Jewelry bubble?
The mechanism behind the formation of jewelry bubbles is thought to involve volcanic gases rising from the bottom of Lake Kussharo, which partially melt the ice covering the lake surface, creating bubbles.
Consequently, they are frequently observed in Lake Kussharo, a caldera lake that freezes completely over in winter.
What is a caldera lake?
A caldera is a large, circular depression formed by a massive volcanic eruption.
When a large eruption occurs, vast amounts of magma are expelled, causing the cavity where magma had accumulated inside the volcano to collapse. This causes the ground surface to sink, forming a circular depression.
A caldera lake is a lake formed when rainwater and other liquids accumulate inside the caldera.
Partial quote from 地理ラボ「カルデラとカルデラ湖・火口湖」
Why does the jewelry bubble appear colored?
Sunlight reflects off bubbles beneath the ice and undergoes multiple refractions before being observed, altering its polarization state. When passed through a polarizing filter at the observation point, it can be observed in a colored state.
Tips for Spotting a Jewelry Bubble
To observe colored jewelry bubbles, you will need polarizing filters or glasses with polarizing lenses.
These can be purchased at large electronics retailers, variety stores, or home improvement centers, so please prepare them for your observation.
Additionally, Jewelry bubbles are best observed during the coldest months, from January to mid-February, so we recommend wearing warm clothing for your observation.
Jewelry Bubble Shifting into Various Forms
Recent observations have also revealed “speckled colored jewelry bubbles,” where finer bubbles form within the larger jewelry bubble, and research into their formation mechanisms and simulation-based reproduction is actively underway.
