Gallery: Swimming Beneath the Brinicles, in Antarctica
01brincicle
Diver Steve Rupp shines his light on the tip of a brinicle at Cape Evans Wall, Ross Sea, Antarctica. (Image Credit: Andrew Thurber, Oregon State University)
02brine2
The open end of a brinicle, where cold, dense fluid emerges into the seawater. (Image Credit: Andrew Thurber, Oregon State University)
03brine6
Several small brinicles reach down toward the seafloor. (Image Credit: Andrew Thurber, Oregon State University)
04brine8
A diver examines a large brinicle. (Image Credit: Andrew Thurber, Oregon State University)
05icecrack
A crack in the ice, potential starting point for future brinicles. (Image Credit: Andrew Thurber, Oregon State University)
06jetty-20-sm
At Little Razor Back Island, Antarctica, this 3m deep area is home to thousands of brinicles that often extend to the seafloor. Living amongst them are thousands of amphipods that can be seen swimming in this image. While normally only close to the ice, when disturbed the amphipods swarm, much like a nest of bees. (Image Credit: Andrew Thurber, Oregon State University)
07minicicles-sm
Incipient brinicles viewed from below. The coloration is from algae that live in the matrix of the ice above. (Image Credit: Andrew Thurber, Oregon State University)
08rorycicle-sm
Diver Rory Welsh swimming by a 2m long Brinicle in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. (Image Credit: Andrew Thurber, Oregon State University)
