Arctic Blue Christmas: Light Show Found on Snows in the White Sea Discovered as Effect of These Organisms

A Russian region that intersects with the Arctic called the White Sea is a remote area where secret biodiversity dwells. The organisms were identified recently by biology expert Vera Emelianenko during their trip this December. The spot was filled with icy landscapes, freezing tidal winds, and strangely glowing snowbanks. The illumination produces streaks of ethereal blue colors that resemble 'blue Christmas lights' right on the thick snow they tread.

Mysterious Blue Light Glow on Arctic Snow, Solved

(Photo : Matheus Bertelli from Pexels)

Emelianenko examined the cause of the glowing snows by scooping certain volumes of them. As the expert squeezed that snow on her hand, the blue shade lit brighter. The biologist requested further insights from fellow marine scientists throughout Russia to gain more knowledge about the phenomenon. The recording was made possible through the help of high-definition images captured exclusively by the station's photography expert Alexander Semenov. According to a report by National Geographic, the team stomped the snowy ground for at least two hours while capturing the unfamiliar Christmas light show.

Emelianenko's examination included a stereo microscopic approach to confirm if any organisms caused the luminescence on the snow. After melting the ice, the expert did not see any obvious clues, including minuscule detritus. However, closer observation revealed that there are indeed living bodies on the petri dish. According to a report by DailyMail, the microorganisms were identified as copepods, which are aquatic crustaceans that can exhibit bioluminescence when pressured at the right amount.

The discovery of copepods' presence in the Arctic is the biggest puzzle piece that completes that mystery of glowing snow on the hemisphere. Emelianenko's investigation was the most comprehensive research and testing throughout the biological studies that revealed the root cause of the phenomenon.

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What are Copepods, and What Makes them Glow?

Copepods are organisms that belong to the invertebrate animal group crustaceans. The biological community recognizes the existence of copepods. However, there are only a few regions where it is observed, leading to the lack of information about their characteristics and what they actually contribute to the ecosystem.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute marine biology expert and deep-sea zooplankton researcher Steven Haddock said that copepods are considered the sea's bugs. Haddock added that copepods exist by numbers, and due to their size, various creatures see them as food variants. Copepods are so tiny that they only have a few millimeters of scale.

Copepods belong to the collective planktons that make up larger biomass present in the planet's wide oceans. Copepods are also known as passive swimmers or organisms displaced naturally by strong currents.

The species in question, Metridia longa, is not endemic on the White Sea. Moscow's Academy of Science Arctic marine zooplankton expert Ksenia Kosobokova said that the copepods only exist in deep-sea regions that measure 80 to 400 feet down below. Although they ascend above the waters, copepods can only elevate just a few feet from their natural habitat. During nights and winter seasons, the crustaceans are fond of ascending compared to other times of the day and warmer seasons. The expert said that their periodic visits to the White Sea are most probably induced by extreme currents, which the copepods are most vulnerable.

The bioluminescence of the copepods is explained through luciferin, a common molecule in organisms that stores small amounts of energy. When luciferin is oxidized, faint glowing could occur. To notch up the brightness of the light, luciferins are usually found to fuse with the enzyme luciferase. It causes the bioluminescence to speed up and produce a stunning, almost impossible glow.

According to the University of California Santa Barbara evolutionary ecologist and marine biologist Todd Oakley, copepods utilize this glow for their defense mechanism, giving a startling signal that will distract predators and other threats upon their escape.