The formation of ice on the surface of the water, whether it is a river, a lake, or a glass left in the cold is an amazing phenomenon. It is associated with the physical properties of liquid substances.
How ice is formed
In heat, water molecules form chains that are long and stretched. It is because of this that water is an amorphous substance. A transition to such an aggregate state as ice is possible only when the thermometer column drops to zero. At the same time, water molecules line up in special lattices. In fact, it looks like ice formation. The second name is freezing. This wildlife is so arranged that the freezing of reservoirs in it usually stretches over a long period. A similar phenomenon is related to weather conditions. For the formation of first-starfish, it is enough for a couple of nights to stand a good frost with relative calm. However, a sharp warming, wet snow with rain, wind and damp fogs can cause the water to return to its liquid state again. Then the period of freezing will be delayed for an unknown time.
Ponds accumulate heat all summer and warm autumn, therefore, by the beginning of the first frosts, the water is warmer than the surrounding air. No wonder, because the density of water is much higher! The contact of warm water and cooled air leads to a reaction called heat transfer.
When the water on the surface has a temperature of +4 degrees Celsius, mixing of the surface layer of water will begin, with deeper ones. The liquid that was on the surface becomes dense, and warm water from below displaces it because of its lower density. Thus, the entire thickness of the water cools evenly.
Ledostavit is a phenomenon in which the temperature of the water becomes zero degrees, and ice appears on the pond. In real life, the temperature minimum may vary by several degrees. This is due to the presence of various impurities in the water, as well as the type of reservoir, its depth, course, and bottom topography.
Freeze on the rivers
Freeze-up is an extremely dangerous period for entering the river ice. In a constant flow, ice forms later than in non-flowing water bodies. But the growth of ice here is much faster due to the fact that the water is colder.
The main danger of the ice in the rivers is a change in the water level. Ground water freezes and ceases to feed the water artery, because of this, the water level drops sharply, and the first ice formed begins to break. The ice flows downstream in one place, where they then freeze safely, forming ice hummocks.
When can I go on the ice
It is believed that ice with a thickness of 5 cm is able to withstand the weight of one person. However, winter fishing enthusiasts are not recommended to open the season until the ice thickness reaches at least 10 cm - it is believed that ice formation has ended at this thickness. It is not necessary to check every day. No need to constantly go to the river. It is enough to make simple calculations and roughly navigate the date of going out on the ice. It is believed that with existing ice at 10 cm and an air temperature of minus 5 degrees, the thickness of the cover per day will add 4 cm, at a temperature of -10 - 6 cm. The ice thickness will almost double if the temperature is kept at -20 degrees a day.