Ice-Out 2009

[Blue Thunder]

OK you ice experts, does the darkness in the ice that shows up on the various webcams today really "mean" anything or is it just because it is black ice, not snow ice.

Blue Thunder

[boat_guy64]

There is some water on top of the ice on Meredith Bay and several places around the lake. I think that is what you see on the cams. The ice is still a foot thick at the edge of our bubblers and I saw seven sleds go all the way down Meredith Bay about an hour ago. They were throwing up lots of slush and water as they went by and I don't think that I'd be doing that.

[DRH]

These photos of Minge Cove Marina were taken this afternoon. The slips are still mostly iced in, but there is now open water at the entrance to the marina.

[VtSteve]

We've not had much ice as usual over here on Champlain, excepting the bays of course. Looks like they're getting down to the final phase as well. Boats have been out fishing in front of our place for two weeks now.

[Blue Thunder]

I found this description of the ice out process while surfing the net. Some of it seems to make sense.

How Lake Ice Melts
1. In the late fall, the lake loses heat to the atmosphere, and then on a day or night when the wind is not blowing, ice forms. The ice gets thicker as long as the lake can continue to lose heat.

2. In most Januaries and Februaries, snow both reflects sunlight and insulates the lake. With a thick snow layer, the lake neither gains nor loses heat. The bottom sediment is actually heating the lake water slightly over the winter, from stored summer heat.

3. Around March, as the air warms and the sun gets more intense, the snow melts, allowing light to penetrate the ice. Because the ice acts like the glass in a greenhouse, the water beneath it begins to warm, and the ice begins to melt FROM THE BOTTOM.

4. When the ice thickness erodes to between 4 and 12 inches, it transforms into long vertical crystals called "candles." These conduct light even better, so the ice starts to look black, because it is not reflecting much sunlight.

5. Warming continues because the light energy is being transferred to the water below the ice. Meltwater fills in between the crystals, which begin breaking apart. The surface appears grayish as the ice reflects a bit more light than before.

6. The wind comes up, and breaks the surface apart. The candles will often be blown to one side of the lake, making a tinkling sound as they knock against one another, and piling up on the shore. In hours, a sparkling blue lake, once again!


BT

[Sunbeam lodge]

Originally Posted by Blue Thunder

I found this description of the ice out process while surfing the net. Some of it seems to make sense.

How Lake Ice Melts
T

1. In the late fall, the lake loses heat to the atmosphere, and then on a day or night when the wind is not blowing, ice forms. The ice gets thicker as long as the lake can continue to lose heat.

2. In most Januaries and Februaries, snow both reflects sunlight and insulates the lake. With a thick snow layer, the lake neither gains nor loses heat. The bottom sediment is actually heating the lake water slightly over the winter, from stored summer heat.

3. Around March, as the air warms and the sun gets more intense, the snow melts, allowing light to penetrate the ice. Because the ice acts like the glass in a greenhouse, the water beneath it begins to warm, and the ice begins to melt FROM THE BOTTOM.

4. When the ice thickness erodes to between 4 and 12 inches, it transforms into long vertical crystals called "candles." These conduct light even better, so the ice starts to look black, because it is not reflecting much sunlight.

5. Warming continues because the light energy is being transferred to the water below the ice. Meltwater fills in between the crystals, which begin breaking apart. The surface appears grayish as the ice reflects a bit more light than before.

6. The wind comes up, and breaks the surface apart. The candles will often be blown to one side of the lake, making a tinkling sound as they knock against one another, and piling up on the shore. In hours, a sparkling blue lake, once again!


Great description. I can visually see it happening from my perch here in hot humid Florida. And I can remember that tinkling sound and seeing that sparkling blue lake. Can the black flies and mosquitoes be far behind. Time to get the flyrod out.

[Webbsatwinni]

Sitting here in CT looking at the webcams for my daily lake fix, it looks like the lake has taken on a weaker look than it did last week. Is this just wishful thinking, trick webcams or reality?

[AC2717]

Originally Posted by Webbsatwinni

Sitting here in CT looking at the webcams for my daily lake fix, it looks like the lake has taken on a weaker look than it did last week. Is this just wishful thinking, trick webcams or reality?

I would have to say reality, I was up this past weekend, and there were a lot of large cracks and no snow cover on the ice, also you could tell it was getting thin and breaking up, I would not be surprised that if the wind comes soon the ice will be moving out real quick.

One thing to note something I just really took notice of this weekend, despite all the times I head up there during the winter. The whole area just felt depressing with no green grass, no leaves on the trees, no flowers. Just everything about it screamed depressing, even hough Saturday was beautiful day. Also took note of how many store fronts were empty, not just closed for the winter, Memorial day will be interesting

[corollaman]

Paugus Bay is starting to turn grey, and I'm sure the lake is not far behind.

[DRH]

Originally Posted by Webbsatwinni

Sitting here in CT looking at the webcams for my daily lake fix, it looks like the lake has taken on a weaker look than it did last week. Is this just wishful thinking, trick webcams or reality?

The surface of the lake is definitely much darker than it was last week. The rain we got on Friday night and again yesterday was a big factor in this. It's drizzling here this morning as well.