The BriniÂcle of Death. It has nevÂer been capÂtured on film … until now. And it’s all on disÂplay courÂtesy of the BBC series Frozen PlanÂet.
In a nutÂshell, a briniÂcle forms when cold, dense brine comes into conÂtact with warmer water. It all starts on the ocean’s surÂface, and then the emergÂing briniÂcle (othÂerÂwise known as an ice staÂlacÂtite) starts to move downÂward, formÂing someÂthing of a subÂmerged torÂnaÂdo, until it evenÂtuÂalÂly hits the ocean floor and freezes everyÂthing in its path. The video above takes a 5–6 hour event and reduces it to a crisp, kind of hair-raisÂing two minÂutes.
Its amazÂing to think that this brine rejecÂtion process is one of thee cruÂcial ocean processÂes. That very salty water conÂtinÂues sinkÂing all the way to the botÂtom of the deep ocean, and then starts flowÂing north. If you were to take a samÂple of water from the very botÂtom of the equaÂtoÂrÂiÂal Atlantic or PacifÂic, it would be this water you see here you hauled up!