Thursday, 24 November 2011

'Brinicle' Ice Finger Of Death Filmed In Antarctic

A bizarre underwater 'icicle of death' has been filmed for the first time by cameramen Hugh Miller and Doug Anderson for the BBC One series Frozen Planet. With timelapse cameras, specialists recorded salt water being excluded from the sea ice and sinking.

The temperature of this sinking brine caused the water to freeze in an icy sheath around it. Where the so-called 'brinicle' met the sea bed, a web of ice formed that froze everything it touched, including sea urchins and starfish.



YouTube link

More information about the icicle of death at the BBC site.

(thanks Cora and Miss Rare)

1 comment(s):

Will said...

Frozen planet is awesome!