This blog have information about Underwater Icicle. In the start, it explains what is the Underwater Icicle. Then it elaborates why we call it as Fingers of Death. In the end, it mentions the Conditions for Formation of Underwater Icicle. This blog contains information about Underwater Icicle and the conditions for their formation.
What is Underwater Icicle?
Underwater icicle is a line or hand of ice that reaches to the bottom of the sea and freezes everything it touches. It is found during the Arctic and Antarctic winters. It arises from the frozen sea surface and is a life threat to the species living in the sea.
Underwater icicle act as a trap for fishes, plants and other creatures within the sea, in a way that it freezes everything it touches so it can cause death of the sea creatures at the spot by freezing their bodies.
It is a slow growing stalactite that forms at the bottom of the ocean and descends towards the ocean floor. This is very dangerous to life present in the sea.
It takes about 12 hour for the icicle to grow and reach the ocean floor. Some scientists notices the icicle to reach the ocean floor within 5 to 6 hours so we can call such Icicles, upside-down cacti.
Concentrated salt of the sea water helps the icicle to freeze and extend into the sea to reach the sea floor. This phenomenon helps the icicle to reach the surface of the sea. It is formed in the Brine Salt of the sea water, so it is also called as a Brinicle. You can see an Underwater Icicle in the picture below!
Fingers of Death:
Underwater Icicle is also called as fingers of deaths. It is because it grabs everything that comes in its way and kill it with ice by freezing. This is a serious threat to animals and plants on the ocean floor. It can cause death of animals and plants at the spot. It creates a fast moving channel of ice that instantly freezes the creepy crawlies, tiny starfishes and sea urchins which are small and too slow to sense the icicle and run away from it. In this way it grabs creatures with its fingers of death so it is quiet dangerous as every sea animals cannot sense it and becomes its target.
Conditions for formation of Icicle:
Following are some of the conditions for an icicle to form:
• Surrounding water should be less saline than the brine.
(It will be difficult to freeze if there is no presence of certain conditions ).
• The water cannot be deep.
(If the water will be deep it will not be able to reach the ocean floor).
• The overhead ice pack must be still or the tides must be minimal.
(These properties helps the icicle to grow properly and help to reduce disturbance in growth).
All these conditions involves in the formation of underwater icicle. If these are not present, so the formation of the icicle will be difficult or it will not perform completely. You can see a normal icicle in the picture below!
Conclusion:
Underwater icicles are the hands of ice that forms on the sea surface and reaches the sea floor. These are also called as Fingers of Death, because it freezes everything it touches. Small animals cannot resist from underwater icicles as it kills them at the spot. It is forms in certain conditions such as shallow water, less saline water etc. This phenomenon is responsible to cause damage to sea life from many years so it is the cause of death of thousands of animals every year onto the ocean floor.
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