QUESTION:
If a volcano erupts, wouldn't the hot lava, temporarily
melt the ice?  If so, wouldn't the ice have a reddish, 
brownish color after the lava froze?'

        Kyle, Megan, Francisco, Sean, and Jessie
        Mrs. Gindorff's Class
        Roseville, MN



ANSWER from Scott Borg, Program Director                                 
            Office of Polar Programs
            Antarctic Geology & Geophysics Program        
            National Science Foundation
            Mon, 31 Mar 1997 17:51:13 -0500

Dear Kyle, Megan, Francisco, Sean and Jessie,

When volcanoes erupt, they do indeed melt the ice adjacent to the
volcanoes.  During an eruption, the ice could get covered in volcanic ash,
and so the surface could appear red (or brown) if the volcanic ash were red
(or brown), but ice is colorless when it is pure and so the ice itself would
not change color.

Scott Borg