Ghostly plumes of "sea smoke" have been seen rising from a glacier in Antarctica. NASA's Landsat 8 satellite captured the extraordinary atmospheric phenomenon above Antarctica's Pine Island Glacier.

The images were captured on October 10 and show two atmospheric phenomena - sea smoke forming at the glacier's edge and snow streams.

The near-surface atmospheric phenomena is normally not visible because of a cloud cover, Christopher Shuman, a glaciologist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, said in a statement.&nbsp;

Sea smoke is caused when ice, water and air interact. Shuman says the pictures show the power of winds, as when they push water and sea ice away from the glacier's front, warmer water comes up.

This warm water comes in contact with the cold Antarctic air and creates a dramatic condensation effect. Small ice crystals are formed in the process which look like ghostly plumes rising from the water's surface.

<h2>Two major glaciers of Antarctica</h2>

Pine Island Glacier and the Thwaites Glacier are a critical pathway for ice flow from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet into the Amundsen Sea. However, both of them have been retreating rapidly and calving out huge chunks of icebergs.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/this-massive-continent-might-cease-to-exist-as-a-whole-in-the-coming-years-771526">THIS massive continent might cease to exist as a whole in the coming years</a>

The pictures also show streams of white snow being carried by powerful springtime winds. These snow streams originate from a chaotic shear zone of fractured ice near the glacier's southern edge.

Shuman says that katabatic winds are a signature feature of Antarctic climate. "One really shouldn't be surprised to see winds coming out of the interior with all the cold winter air that's been isolated there for months," Shuman said.

Experts say that the wind-driven phenomena bring to the fore important scientific questions about Antarctica's changing climate. How blowing snow affects the surface mass balance of polar ice sheets is a major question that intrigues scientists.

However, gathering data is a challenge because of the the remote location and harsh conditions of these sites.

Ghostly plumes of "sea smoke" have been seen rising from a glacier in Antarctica. NASA's Landsat 8 satellite captured the extraordinary atmospheric phenomenon above Antarctica's Pine Island Glacier.

Ghostly plumes of "sea smoke" have been seen rising from a glacier in Antarctica. NASA's Landsat 8 satellite captured the extraordinary atmospheric phenomenon above Antarctica's Pine Island Glacier. The images were captured on October 10 and show two atmospheric phenomena - sea smoke forming at the glacier's edge and snow streams. The near-surface atmospheric phenomena is normally not visible because of a cloud cover, Christopher Shuman, a glaciologist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, said in a statement. Sea smoke is caused when ice, water and air interact. Shuman says the pictures show the power of winds, as when they push water and sea ice away from the glacier's front, warmer water comes up. This warm water comes in contact with the cold Antarctic air and creates a dramatic condensation effect. Small ice crystals are formed in the process which look like ghostly plumes rising from the water's surface. Two major glaciers of Antarctica Pine Island Glacier and the Thwaites Glacier are a critical pathway for ice flow from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet into the Amundsen Sea. However, both of them have been retreating rapidly and calving out huge chunks of icebergs. Also Read: THIS massive continent might cease to exist as a whole in the coming years The pictures also show streams of white snow being carried by powerful springtime winds. These snow streams originate from a chaotic shear zone of fractured ice near the glacier's southern edge. Shuman says that katabatic winds are a signature feature of Antarctic climate. "One really shouldn't be surprised to see winds coming out of the interior with all the cold winter air that's been isolated there for months," Shuman said. Experts say that the wind-driven phenomena bring to the fore important scientific questions about Antarctica's changing climate. How blowing snow affects the surface mass balance of polar ice sheets is a major question that intrigues scientists. However, gathering data is a challenge because of the the remote location and harsh conditions of these sites.

Satellite captures bizarre smoke rising from Antarctic glacier. What is it?

In a rare sight, several people witnessed ‘sea smoke’ at a time when record cold temperatures gripped western Washington in the United States recently. &nbsp;

Although it may have looked like that the water is on fire, it’s the chilly weather that has been causing the phenomenon. &nbsp;

During the winter, the waters of Puget Sound usually remain mild. The sea surface temperatures stay&nbsp;in the low-mid 50s. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/wooden-satellite-in-space-by-2023-explore-ambitious-plans-of-japanese-researchers-441582" hreflang="en">‘Wooden’ satellite in space by 2023? Explore ambitious plans of Japanese researchers</a>

It also keeps the air, which is just above the water, relatively warm as well. But as temperature drops around the region, the warmer air quickly gets cooled up and condensed into wisps of fog. &nbsp;

Around the shorelines, when the winds blow as gusts from 20 mph to 40 mph, it looks as if the smoke is blowing across the water. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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Steam fog over <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BellinghamBay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BellinghamBay</a> today! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wawx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wawx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bellingham?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bellingham</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/winter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#winter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pnw?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pnw</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSSeattle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NWSSeattle</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottSeattleWx?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ScottSeattleWx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/bhamweatherBham?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bhamweatherBham</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MorganKIRO7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MorganKIRO7</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ShannonODKOMO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShannonODKOMO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ErinMayovsky?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ErinMayovsky</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ensembleator?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ensembleator</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/50ShadesofVan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@50ShadesofVan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/abbyacone?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@abbyacone</a> <a href="https://t.co/AZn533pqhF">pic.twitter.com/AZn533pqhF</a>
— Randy Small - Whatcom County Weather (@RandySmall) <a href="https://twitter.com/RandySmall/status/1475525201567780864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2021</a></blockquote>
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It is formally known as steam fog but also goes by arctic sea smoke, where it is most common or just sea smoke. &nbsp;

Earlier, visitors to Lake Manitoba in Canada also witnessed a rare phenomenon, which is only seen every few years around the world. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/catch-ultimate-glimpse-104-m-wide-asteroid-set-to-pass-near-earth-on-january-11-441573" hreflang="en">Catch ultimate glimpse: 104-m-wide asteroid set to pass near Earth on January 11</a>

The weather conditions seem to have become conducive for the formation of thousands of slush balls along the shore of the massive lake. &nbsp; &nbsp;

According to the experts, this phenomenon can be witnessed when air temperatures are below freezing point and there are onshore winds and waves to ensure the waterway does not become a solid sheet of ice. &nbsp; &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In a rare sight, several people witnessed ‘sea smoke’ at a time when record cold temperatures gripped western Washington in the United States recently. Although it may have looked like that the water is on fire, it’s the chilly weather that has been causing the phenomenon.

In a rare sight, several people witnessed ‘sea smoke’ at a time when record cold temperatures gripped western Washington in the United States recently. Although it may have looked like that the water is on fire, it’s the chilly weather that has been causing the phenomenon. During the winter, the waters of Puget Sound usually remain mild. The sea surface temperatures stay in the low-mid 50s. Also Read: ‘Wooden’ satellite in space by 2023? Explore ambitious plans of Japanese researchers It also keeps the air, which is just above the water, relatively warm as well. But as temperature drops around the region, the warmer air quickly gets cooled up and condensed into wisps of fog. Around the shorelines, when the winds blow as gusts from 20 mph to 40 mph, it looks as if the smoke is blowing across the water. Steam fog over #BellinghamBay today! #wawx #Bellingham #cold #winter #pnw @NWSSeattle @ScottSeattleWx @bhamweatherBham @MorganKIRO7 @ShannonODKOMO @ErinMayovsky @ensembleator @50ShadesofVan @abbyacone pic.twitter.com/AZn533pqhF — Randy Small - Whatcom County Weather (@RandySmall) December 27, 2021 × It is formally known as steam fog but also goes by arctic sea smoke, where it is most common or just sea smoke. Earlier, visitors to Lake Manitoba in Canada also witnessed a rare phenomenon, which is only seen every few years around the world. Also Read: Catch ultimate glimpse: 104-m-wide asteroid set to pass near Earth on January 11 The weather conditions seem to have become conducive for the formation of thousands of slush balls along the shore of the massive lake. According to the experts, this phenomenon can be witnessed when air temperatures are below freezing point and there are onshore winds and waves to ensure the waterway does not become a solid sheet of ice. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Is water on fire? Witness rare sea smoke emanated in US

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