marine snow

British  

noun

1. small particles of organic biogenic marine sediment, including the remains of organisms, faecal matter, and the shells of planktonic oganisms, that slowly drift down to the sea floor

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

marine snow

To investigate the process, the researchers recreated marine snow in the laboratory using diatoms, microscopic algae that naturally clump together as they sink through the ocean.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 12, 2026

The researchers estimate that sinking marine snow can lose as much as 50% of its original carbon and between 58% and 63% of its original nitrogen during its descent through the deep ocean.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 12, 2026

And that marine snow becomes food for the creatures of the deep.

From Salon ● Feb. 17, 2025

It was hunting for marine snow - “poo, basically” in the words of one researcher.

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2024

Although the term may suggest wintry whites, marine snow is mostly brownish or grayish, comprising mostly dead things.

From New York Times ● Apr. 3, 2022