[Outcast (OP)]

We're all familiar with the multi-second "Thar she blows" exhalation of whales.
But ALL the videos seem to show only a fraction of a second after that before the blowhole is submerged. It doesn't appear that they've had time to take in enough fresh air to replace the air they expelled. Obviously, it works. How?
(Please, no moderator responses.)

[Bored chemist]

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How did you imagine that would work?

[evan_au]

I have seen the misty exhalation of whales hanging in the air for several seconds.

However, I suspect that while the mist is dispersing, the whale is inhaling.

They also surface a couple of times in quick succession, between deeper dives.

Whales_3.jpg (114.92 kB . 800x551 - viewed 121066 times)
A whale I saw in Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska).

[RD]

They can exhale before they get to the surface ... https ://youtu.be/fcdSsNF21Po?t=12

[pensador]

We're all familiar with the multi-second "Thar she blows" exhalation of whales.
But ALL the videos seem to show only a fraction of a second after that before the blowhole is submerged. It doesn't appear that they've had time to take in enough fresh air to replace the air they expelled. Obviously, it works. How?
(Please, no moderator responses.)

Sperm whales spend 10 minutes on the surface after each dive, lasting 0.5 an hour or more. The most noticable thing if seen from a distance is the blow, the blow hole has a flap of muscle which closes as they are submerged. Small marine mammals dolphins, only spend a short period of time above the surface, they can exhale below the surface, and inhale as they come out of the surface of the water, broach. Occasionally you will hear dolphins blow as they break the surface.
The bigger the whale the more time it spends on the surface.
The time a whale has to spend on the surface depends on how long it has been submerged, if it is migrating, it will be travelling nearer the surface and you might see them blow and inhale as they are swimming along. If they are feeding deep, they will come to the surface and rest, get their breath back
The bigger the marine mammal species the longer they have to spend on the surface breathing.