The arctic seas beneath the ice there is a huge icicles

The origin of these icicles, or as they are called scientists, ice stalactites long been a mystery to science. Shedding light on this phenomenon could a group of Spanish scientists from the Center for Applied Mathematics of the Basque Country.





First of all, it is worth mentioning that these formations called stalactites only because of their external similarity. In contrast to the well-known stalactite formed icicles are quite different. It's no secret that any ice, even the sea, fresh water. When freezing seawater dissolved minerals in it to form a highly concentrated brine, which fill cracks and voids in the ice. When the break cavity, the brine falls into the ocean, and because it is much saltier and denser than the surrounding water, it goes down. The higher the salinity of the water, the lower its freezing temperature, so the brine can be cooled to very low temperatures. Plunging into the depths, the brine cools the surrounding water, that due to lower salinity leads to its freezing. A trickle of brine starts to grow into ice, leading to the formation of the very icicle-shaped tube.





Scientists say the value of their other studies. In their view, it can tell how it is possible the emergence of life on the icy space objects such as Europe and the Titan, the satellites of Jupiter and Saturn. There, too, there is an ocean covered with ice, and therefore, can form ice stalactites. With the growth of these structures create chemical gradients, the electric potentials and the membrane, that is, all the conditions necessary for the emergence of life. Therefore, it is possible that it is in the field of education is the formation of ice stalactites and simple alien organisms.





via factroom.ru