The Brinicle: Ice finger of Death #oceancreatures #facts #nature #wildlife

Did you know that the ocean hides one of nature's most fascinating phenomena called the Brinicle, or 'ice finger of death'? A Brinicle forms under sea ice when salt-rich water leaks out of sea ice. Ordinary tap water freezes at 0°C because it’s relatively pure. Sea water contains salt and therefore freezes at about −2°C. If, however, a very large amount of salt is dissolved in water, its freezing point can easily reach −20° C (such solutions are called “brine”). As the brine descends, it freezes the seawater around it, creating a hollow, ice tube. This icy stalactite grows downward, reaching the ocean floor, and can kill anything in its path, like starfish and sea urchins, by freezing them instantly. Having sunk to the bottom, brine behaves like any other liquid spilled on a solid surface — it flows down the slope. Brinicles are extremely rare and difficult to observe because they form in such harsh, icy environments. They can form in just a few hours, and their rapid growth is a mesmerizing process to witness. Next time you think about the wonders of the ocean, remember the Brinicle – one of the ocean's coolest and deadliest secrets!