A brinicle or an ice stalactite is a formation of sea ice that gets generated when extremely cold saline water is introduced in ocean water. During winter, the temperature above the sea is -20C, whereas, the temperature of the sea water is only -1.9C. Heat tends to flow from the warmer sea to the extremely cold air, resulting in the formation of ice pipes.
The salt in this freshly created ice is concentrated and then later gets pressured into the brine channels. It’s cold and salty traits; make it denser than the water beneath. It results in the sinking of brine in a descending trail freezing the seawater altogether. This process results in forming a delicate ice sheets that develops into what has been called a brinicle.
Watch an amazing time-lapse video in this report by the BBC
-- http://bbc.in/s3xghK
