There was an unusual sight on a snowfield located at the White Sea Biological Station in the Russian-controlled Arctic region. The snow gave off a shimmering glow. What's wrong?
The light was a beautiful pale blue. Scientists were curious so they immediately investigated it and concluded that the cause of this glowing snow was small animals called copepods.
As quoted by us from the Metro, Wednesday (12/29/2021) the bright light in the snow was first discovered by the biologists working there, while they were taking a walk some time ago.
It is suspected that the plankton animals were swept to the beach by the brunt of the high waves. When the biologists or their dogs stepped on them, the copepods glowed in the white snow.
"They look like the blue light of Christmas in a snowfield," said Vera Emeliako, a biologist who witnessed the rare sight for the first time.
Vera also took the snow sample to examine it. It was later revealed by him that the light was appearing in the snow because of the presence of a copepod organism that could glow.
These copepods are sometimes referred to as ocean insects, where they are very small, only a few millimeters. Approximately if illustrated is only the size of a few grains of sand.
"They are small, there are many, and they are eaten by many animals," said Steven Haddock, another biologist. They are passive swimmers so cannot avoid high waves.
The species stranded in the snow was identified as Metridia longa, whose habitat can be found in the oceans from Canada to the Arctic.
