I’m trying to avoid getting caught up in TV news stories that make me think too much, so I’ve decided to share this bad-ass time-lapse video from the BBC One series “Frozen Planet.” I don’t really understand the scientific explanation (again, I’m trying not to think today), so here’s your token blockquote:
In winter, the air temperature above the sea ice can be below -20C, whereas the sea water is only about -1.9C. Heat flows from the warmer sea up to the very cold air, forming new ice from the bottom. The salt in this newly formed ice is concentrated and pushed into the brine channels. And because it is very cold and salty, it is denser than the water beneath.
The result is the brine sinks in a descending plume. But as this extremely cold brine leaves the sea ice, it freezes the relatively fresh seawater it comes in contact with. This forms a fragile tube of ice around the descending plume, which grows into what has been called a brinicle. [BBC via tywkiwdbi]
Whatever, man. Here’s what you need to know: the brinicle hits the sea floor and freezes a whole bunch of sea urchins and starfish, Day After Tomorrow-style. I can’t believe I ever questioned the science in that movie.
(thanks @flubby)
