November 21, 2008

• AMAZING ICE

  First, a visit to see some amazing striped icebergs.
  
  Icebergs in the Antarctic area sometimes have stripes, formed by layers of snow that react to different conditions.
  
  Blue stripes are often created when a crevice in the ice sheet fills up with melting water and freezes so quickly that no bubbles form.
  
  When an iceberg falls into the sea, a layer of salty seawater can freeze to the underside. If rich in algae, it can form a green stripe.
  
  Brown, black and yellow stripes are caused by sediment picked up when the ice sheet grinds on land going downhill towards the sea.
  
  Pretty cool (no pun) isn’t it?  
  
  Now for another interesting condition.  Frozen waves!
  
  In these photos, the water froze the instant the wave broke through the ice.  
  
  In the right conditions, the water freezes the instant it comes in contact with the air. 
  
  The temperature of the water is already some degrees below freezing.
  
  Just look how this wave froze in mid-air!!!
  
  Having the Internet means that we get to see something that we may never see or be able to imagine! 
  
  

  • 4:25 pm
  • 5 Comments