Posted on 11/18/2022 8:05:53 AM PST by BenLurkin
Many different species of phytoplankton are photosynthetic: They require sunlight to generate energy. When the ocean freezes over, less light can penetrate to the surface where they typically thrive. Scientists have been studying when and where the tiny organisms begin to flourish and have noted this typically occurs when the sea ice retreats. In recent years, work at the opposite end of the world, in the Arctic, has suggested masses of phytoplankton (or "blooms") can and do survive under sea ice in darker, low light conditions.
[S]cientists collected data from 51 floating laboratories ("floats") deployed between 2014 and 2021. The floats can gather biogeochemical signals across the Southern Ocean with a suite of sensors and they can also detect sea ice and dive below the surface, drifting through the water.
Looking at the amount of chlorophyll molecules detected by the floats and comparing with NASA satellite determinations of sea ice cover, the researchers described plentiful blooms of phytoplankton living below the sea ice, typically before it retreats during the polar summer. This was true for about 26% of the measurements made.
2021, the British Antarctic Survey drilled a hole in the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf and found unusual lifeforms at a depth of around 4,000 feet. And this past June, New Zealand scientists working at another ice shelf, Ross, melted a hole and found a river of life lurking beneath the shelf, some 1,600 feet down.
Yes, Jurassic Parks fans. Life does indeed find a way. Even in the dark, cold seas of Antarctica.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnet.com ...
Gee, I feel like a genius about now.
“Well, I’ve got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the grant money came in. The bad news is that you will be studying microorganisms beneath the ice sheets of Antarctica. May the force be with you.”
I thought the science was settled. Humans destroyed the earth.
Science- “life on Europa probable”
Also Science- “life under Arctic sea ice unexpected”
That’s odd, once again scientists are baffled while I am not surprised in the slightest
"Follow the science." Right.
If phytoplankton can survive under such conditions, maybe they can live under the icy surfaces of some of the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. NASA needs to send satellites there to investigate. Chances are they won’t find any life, but if they did it would be interesting...totally useless information but no worse than half the things the federal government spends money on.
Apparently, the springing of life from non-life has been relatively easy, given billions of years and the right environment!
How many years will it take for THESE microorganisms to evolve into sentient life, after Armageddon, of course?
How can that be...they already know everything...things like global warming...
Odd right?
I think they said something similar about the deepest parts of the oceans as well.
bttt
LOL! “Can the space heaters be with me, too?”
Humans have explored space more than our oceans. They can be very deep and who knows what surprises will be discovered with further investigations.
You can power them with windmills and solar panels.
More unsettled science. The plankton aren’t listening to the white coats. They should be banned on social media.
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