Stalactite Growth beneath Sea Ice

Fresh ice stalactites were observed beneath sea ice in Antarctica. They are hollow, tapering, inverted cones having a base diameter between 10 and 20 centimeters and a tip diameter of 4 to 10 centimeters extending downward about 100 centimeters. The stalactites form when dense, chilled brine drains...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science
Main Author: Paige, Russell A.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 1970
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.167.3915.171.b
https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.167.3915.171.b
Description
Summary:Fresh ice stalactites were observed beneath sea ice in Antarctica. They are hollow, tapering, inverted cones having a base diameter between 10 and 20 centimeters and a tip diameter of 4 to 10 centimeters extending downward about 100 centimeters. The stalactites form when dense, chilled brine drains downward from the ice sheet into seawater of normal salinity and near-freezing temperature.