Waves that size, when they can be generated, don't freeze "instantly", and waves that size also don't "break through ice".
It's describing a glacier ("ice sheet grinds downhill"), and the last glacier (ice age) in the great lakes was around 10,000 years ago. So if that's Lake Michigan, then that inflatable has to be 10,000 years old too! It has to be closer to one of the poles than that.
Glaciers don't "grind downhill"; when advancing they are moved by pressure from above or behind, like pouring pancake batter in a pan. And they melt in place when they recede.
I rather doubt that that is even fresh water. Where did these pictures come from? They're beautiful.
I actually don't know - they were sent from a Michigan City/New Buffalo colleague. IF they are Lake Michigan, I'd assume the north side. But the pics are really pretty AND it's getting back down to -3 tonight.
Y.B.Normal wrote:Any idea where on the lake those pics were taken?
I've seen these before. I believe they were taken in 2002 or 2004 in Antarctica. The whole layering from water freezing to the bottom of bergs and algae is also bogus. Blue ice forms when bubbles are compressed or melted out ie on top in summer then re-freeze clear. Take the berg with the vertical blue line. That was probably surface water in summer, re-froze, berg broke off then started doing summersaults in the water.
On top of that they are not frozen waves, even in Antarctica. If you've ever been on a frozen lake when the temp drops you can hear the ice expanding and cracking like an earth quake. When the pressure builds enough it will force a pressure ridge and push ice up these just happen to be really big. Then the wind and sun get at the corners and round them off. This can also happen when driving to fast across salt ice (which is more flexible) or thinner lake ice…the wave can build in front of you and when you approach shallower water you'll have a blow out in front of you with little time to react.
They are incredible photos still, just misrepresented.
Had caves form near here from a related process, Bob; called "shove ice" it was large this year and in a spot that was visible and accessible to the public, and when the media launched the story it became a sensation.
I live in a bay, and a pressure ridge caused by shear along a line from uplake Erie makes huge pileups a few hundred feet from shore when the lake freezes. The gigantic ice sheet from Lake Erie tries to move downstream from both the current and the wind, but the ice, "dovetailed" in the bay, prevents that so it just shears off.
Yeah, the cracking of ice makes the most ungodly sound when temperatures and water levels are changing. It's better when the snow cover is gone, or light. When it's calm and quiet at night it can be really spooky. I'm sure the right personality would call it terrifying, especially if you didn't know what it was; at times sounds like a spaceship firing phasers. It's easy to see how the early people thought that there were spirits in the lake.
Hearing that sound might be included on a "bucket list", but it's hard to predict- the conditions have to be right. Hearing the sounds of the "singing sands" is one somewhat related natural phenomenon on my bucket list too.
It gets cold and stays cold in this part of the world.
That is so cool. Looks somewhat like our lake. However, we get these huge pressure ridges. Folks still drive their trucks out on the ice and fish. Last year 2 of them fell through.
Two years ago, a girl I worked with, went through the ice on her snowmobile. Her husband managed to get her out and home safely. They were able to retrieve the sled the next day. Scary stuff.
bhbell wrote:Two years ago, a girl I worked with, went through the ice on her snowmobile. Her husband managed to get her out and home safely. They were able to retrieve the sled the next day. Scary stuff.
Yes, that is scary stuff. Last year, one guy drowned when his truck went through. The other had his dog drown in the truck when it sank. I never feel secure on ice no matter how thick it is. Right now, the ice is 2 feet thick. We see ice boats out there this time of year. Things go 75mph and the drivers wear helmets and protective gear.
These guys drive their sleds on water on purpose. Nuts. Seems like it's the next level for adrenaline junkies on sleds. If doing it, they say to tie a rope and float so you can retrieve your machine later. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tdflnwt4Fo