Subject: Blows
Michael Wiliamson (williams@www1.wheelock.edu)
Sun, 09 Mar 1997 10:05:40 -0500
What is happening when a whale spouts water from its
blowhole? Is it ejecting water from its lungs, or is it a
result of exhaling which turns the water on the blowhole
into an aerosol?
Thanks for any info.
Tara
tandk@uniserve.com
There is no water in the lungs. Whales are mammals like us.
What would happen to you if you had water in your lungs?
The blow is made up of two basic ingredients. Some is water
pushed into the air by the blow, especially if the whale
starts to blow just before it surfaces, but most of the blow
is just moisture that condensed from moisture in the whales
exhaled breath. Much like you when you exhale on a cold
damp day or exhale onto a mirror.
Mike Williamson
WhaleNet
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Associate Professor-Science
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