Marine snow is a shower of organic material falling from upper waters to the deep ocean.
VIDEO: Biological debris that falls from higher in the water column is also known as marine snow . Some flakes fall for weeks before finally reaching the ocean floor. As plants and animals near the surface of the ocean die and decay, they fall toward the seafloor, just like leaves and decaying material fall onto a forest floor.
In addition to dead animals and plants, marine snow also includes fecal matter, sand, soot, and other inorganic dust. The decaying material is referred to as “marine snow” because it looks a little bit like white fluffy bits. The “snowflakes” grow as they fall, some reaching several centimeters in diameter. Some flakes fall for weeks before finally reaching the ocean floor. This continuous rain of marine snow provides food for many deep-sea creatures. Many animals in the dark parts of the ocean filter marine snow from the water or scavenge it from the seabed. NOAA scientists and others have measured the amount of useable material in marine snow and found that there is plenty of carbon and nitrogen to feed many of the scavengers in the deep sea. The small percentage of material not consumed in shallower waters becomes incorporated into the muddy “ooze” blanketing the ocean floor, where it is further decomposed through biological activity. About three-quarters of the deep ocean floor is covered in this thick, smooth ooze. The ooze collects as much as
Marine Snow Deep Ocean Ocean Exploration Ooze NOS National Ocean Service NOAA National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration Marine Snow Deep Ocean Ocean Exploration Ooze Biological Debris Water Column NOS National Ocean Service NOAA National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Veterans demand action after second suicide outside VA hospital this yearSAN ANTONIO - Veterans and advocates gathered outside the Audie Murphy VA Hospital, demanding accountability following the suicide of 33-year-old Marine veteran
Read more »
DOJ to revoke citizenship of former Marine originally from GhanaThe Department of Justice announced on Monday it was seeking to revoke the citizenship of a former USMC who immigrated to the U.S. from Ghana.
Read more »
Graffiti on US Marine Corps billboard sparks outrage in BaltimoreIn bold black letters, covering an image of several service members, was the word 'Nazi.'
Read more »
The Shark and Guy Harvey Partner on Marine Wildlife CapsuleGreg Norman Collection and the conservationist Guy Harvey have teamed on a shark-themed collection of menswear.
Read more »
How a group tracking sounds beneath Bay Area waters hopes to protect whales from shipping lanesDespite a dramatic rise in whale deaths in the Bay Area — with 2025 already surpassing any year in the past-quarter century — acoustic monitoring of marine mammals in and around the Bay…
Read more »
How a group tracking sounds beneath Bay Area waters hopes to protect whales from shipping lanesDespite a dramatic rise in whale deaths in the Bay Area — with 2025 already surpassing any year in the past-quarter century — acoustic monitoring of marine mammals in and around the Bay…
Read more »