Whales explode due to a process of decomposition known as “bloat and float”. This occurs when a whale dies and its internal gases build up, causing its body to swell. As the whale’s body swells, the skin stretches and eventually the whale will burst from the pressure.
The bloat and float process is caused by bacteria that feed on the whale’s tissues and organs. As the bacteria break down the whale’s tissues and organs, they produce gas. This gas builds up and causes the whale’s body to swell. Eventually, the pressure from the gas becomes too much for the whale’s skin and the whale will burst open.
Whales can explode in both shallow and deep water. In shallow water, the whale will float to the surface and its body will swell until it bursts. In deep water, the whale will sink to the bottom, where it will take longer to decompose and build up more gas. When the gas buildup gets too high, the whale will explode as it reaches the surface.
The bloat and float process can be dangerous for people, as the explosion of a whale can cause debris to fly up to several hundred feets.