Recently while traveling in California to Yosemite National Park with his parents, Bob heard of a phenomenon called "Frazil Ice." Much to his surprise, during a winter walk on a side trail off of our favorite trail at East Fork State Park he found frazil ice, right here at home. It was in a large creek flowing into the East Fork of the Little Miami before it forms East Fork Lake. The video explains frazil ice better then I, but it is a formation of ice crystals in swiftly moving cold water. It is like a slushie moving down stream. In this case, even the bubbles of water froze..
Bob's Dad sent this link. See a great video here about the ice that forms in Yosemite in March & April. The video is about 7 1/2 minutes long, but really interesting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=9V9p4mFEYXc&vq=medium#t=15
Take a winter walk soon and see if you can find "Frazil Ice" in your area!
I love the name 'frazil ice.' It sounds like something Jim Henson would come up with. I don't think we'll find much frazil ice in our area.
ReplyDeleteDan