Sunday 27 November 2011

Time-lapse video shows rare and deadly phenomenon on the ocean floor

The brinicle, first filmed in Antarctica, is a column of submarine ice that kills every living thing that approaches.


Editora Globo


A rare natural phenomenon which occurs only in cold waters, was filmed for the first time in Antarctica by a BBC crew. Known as "brinicle", the phenomenon consists of columns of ice that form in the interior of the ocean, killing every living thing that comes close.


The brinicle forms in very calm seas, where the air temperature is much lower than the temperature of the water. Thus, a small glacier is formed on the surface with a high concentration of salt. Because it is very cold and salt water, its density is greater than the water below it. This makes her fall, creating a column of ice that grows without stopping.


When gets to the bottom of the ocean, brinicle expands the ground, killing all living beings that you are approaching, such as starfish. This process takes a total of five to six hours, the second team from the BBC. The video shows the formation of a complete brinicle by time-lapse technique, which reduced the phenomenon to less than two minutes.


Check out the video:



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