Movemements beneath earth’s surface cause Red rain: Dr Sainudeen Pattazhy

 

The movements caused  by  geological phenomena  such as landslides and collapse of the earth plates may get dispersed into the atmosphere causing the colour change, the study says.

“Due to these natural hazards, biogases under the earth’s crust get released into the atmosphere along with various ores such hexavalent chromium. The chromium present in the red rain water diffuses into the water and biocells comprising  algae, fungi, pollen grains and spores which in turn give red colour to water and biocells,”  Dr Sainudeen, who is also an associate professor of zoology at Sree Narayana College, Kollam,  told Deccan Chronicle. 

 

His study challenges the view held by certain scientists that red rain is caused by air-borne dispersal of algae spores (trentipohlia annulata) from Europe to the Indian sub-continent. “Red rain has been noticed in several parts of the world since 1818. In Kerala, red rain occurred widely in 2001- 2002 in  Kollam, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Kannur and   Ernakulam districts  and in isolated areas in 2011. If the red rain is happening due to the air-borne dispersal of algae spores from Europe, why it is not happening in Europe and other places,” he asked.   

 

The exact cause of the red rain has not been established till now  and the new finding may be a breakthrough.   Dr Sainudeen’s paper  appeared in the  journal’s April issue  (vol. 6,  pp.3453-3454).

 

The study found that  the red rain contains a large number of biocells (which include algae, lichens, fungi, pollen grains, spores ) and various elements like carbon (5 percent), silicon (11) , calcium (7), sodium (9) , potassium (6), phosphorus (4), nickel (2), chromium (3.5), alumina (18) , carbonic acid (8)  and  organic matter (15).  

There is a direct correlation between red rain and geological phenomenon  in Kerala and other countries, the  study says.