You’re listening to Daily Random Facts, a short look at something you may not know. This time, we explore marine snow: material falling from upper ocean waters into the deep sea.

Marine snow is a shower of material that falls from the upper ocean into the deep sea. NOAA says it includes organic matter, such as decaying plants and animals near the surface. It can also include inorganic material, so not every particle is organic. As this mixture sinks, it provides food for many animals living in the deep sea. The name describes the falling material, not a single object: it is a supply of food moving from upper waters toward deeper parts of the ocean. That makes marine snow one way that material from near the surface helps feed deep-sea life. The key idea is simple: falling debris connects upper ocean waters with animals that live far below.