Well we have had some snow at last, but not deep enough to be measured and it was gone within 12 hours.
Yesterday morning was very cold and we had an unusual sight in the garden. in fact something we had never seen before.
Yesterday morning was very cold and we had an unusual sight in the garden. in fact something we had never seen before.
Bird bath with a upward icicle
 |
| 9-10 inches long |
With nothing but ice inside
It can't have been formed from drips from the tree on the left that is over 4 feet away.
Our leaning 'tower' of ice survived for nearly eight hours, slowly melting away.
Carmi's request for us to post something cold at Thematic-photographic-366. couldn't have been better timed.
And we have been left wondering how our icicle came about.
Next day the Weather Eye column in the Times explained how ice spikes like ours are formed.
Basically its created by the expansion of ice, by about 8%, when it freezes. A sheet of ice on a pool like a bird bath spreads from the sides towards the centre, until only a small hole is left on the frozen surface.
Ice starting to form below the hole can push water up, forming a hollow spike of ice, rather like a straw. As more water is pushed up the 'straw', it freezes round the rim at the top - and so the spike grows longer. Eventually the whole tube of water freezes, leaving the pinnacle of ice standing up like a spike.
Next day the Weather Eye column in the Times explained how ice spikes like ours are formed.
Basically its created by the expansion of ice, by about 8%, when it freezes. A sheet of ice on a pool like a bird bath spreads from the sides towards the centre, until only a small hole is left on the frozen surface.
Ice starting to form below the hole can push water up, forming a hollow spike of ice, rather like a straw. As more water is pushed up the 'straw', it freezes round the rim at the top - and so the spike grows longer. Eventually the whole tube of water freezes, leaving the pinnacle of ice standing up like a spike.
12 comments:
Hi Bob - I gather it's sleeting in Leicestershire this a.m. - thankfully we haven't had any down here .. but a hardish frost overnight.
That icicle is fascinating ... and I wonder how - when you find out .. I know you'll have another theme: "I found out how" - absolutely incredible to see ..
Cheers Hilary
Hilary - you won't believe this but today's Times column Weather Eye is all about how such ice spikes are caused.
Are you going to let on how they are formed, Bob?
I think one of the most poignant and unusual gravestones I ever came across was a for a child killed by an icicle falling from the church roof. Not something you generally think of in that context.
Ann
I like your birdbath, and it does seem very cold indeed out there! Underneath the snow in my birdbath is that same thick ice!
I have never heard of an ice spike before now. Good shots to show this strange thing in nature.
THAT is BIZARRE! Thanks for documenting this phenomenon in your photos.
Your upward icicle sure is an odd freak of nature Bob.We have a bird bath in our garden too & it has never frozen any other way but Flat. Very strange mystery indeed as to how it came about.
Weird!! Looks like an icy thunderbolt! Now I shall have to Google the article in the Times! Great shots, too. As usual :)
Had to have been space ice aliens
Thank you for the explanation. It doesn't make it any less astounding.
So interesting - and thank you for the explanation.
I freaked out a little - in a good way - when I first saw this photo, Bob! I thought for sure a little mischievous bird was playing a trick on all of us :)
Thankfully there's an explanation. And thankfully we have you to share scenes and moments like this. Love it!
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