In NASA’s Aquarius research facility, there are 2 waystations called Pinnacle and Gazebo, where divers can refill their oxygen tanks as well as catch a breather because they’re air pockets. Could anyone explain how these air pockets are created right in the middle of a lot of water, with no cave like formations or anything? If you search online the waystations, literally look like a mini gazebo/tent that is open from underneath where water passes, however if you stand underneath it, till your torso there’s an air pocket. It’s really weird to look at, seems almost magical and that’s why I wanna know how it works.
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They pump air into it. The gazebo is basically just an upside-down bowl. The air stays there because it has no where else to go.
You can replicate this with an empty glass and a sink or bathtub full of water.
Just invert the glass and lower it (vertically) into the water. You’ll create an air pocket in the submerged glass.
Since the air is lighter than the water, it tries to float straight up. But since the glass blocks it from going up, it’s stuck there.
It works similar to how a diving bell works. As air is light it naturally wants to go up and is caught up under the tent like structure to stop it escaping. The water cannot enter the air pocket because the pressure of the air is pushing down on it, keeping it out.
Air is lighter than water, so when they are in the same place air goes up and water goes down. Air and water aren’t smart though, so if they are going up or down and run into something, they don’t turn around to find another way. This is why cups work: the water could go over the side and fall out, but it’s not that smart. Underwater air pockets are just like upside down cups for air, since the air is trying to go up.
It’s actually owned by NOAA & run by a university in NC.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/NEEMO/facilities.html
And as others have said, air is pumped into the rest areas (& habitat) and gets stopped from rising by the solid materials that make up the containers.
TIL that the scientists have a 17 hour decompression in the habitat (if they have been working at depth for even a few days) before returning to the surface.
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