Stuart Chape, Glacial blue 2 (AERIAL 2025)

Part of a series of images photographed from a light aircraft of the snow-covered glacial landscapes of the South Island, New Zealand. This image records the blue-grey waters of the braided Cass River flowing into Lakes Tekapo. The blue colour is due to fine silt particles, or glacial flour, in the water results from glacial erosion. The silt is so fine it does not settle to the bottom quickly, remaining in suspension in the lake water and defracts light to create different shades of colour in the water. Glacial landscapes are threatened globally by climate change as glaciers melt as a result of global warming.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.