Frozen Lace

Provided and copyright: Peg Staudenmaier
Summary author: Peg Staudenmaier

A delicate lace of ice covers this small creek near Baird's Creek Parkway, Green Bay, WI. Overnight sub-zero (degrees F) temperatures quickly froze the ripples coming from the spring that feeds this small stream, resulting in the formation of feather-like ice crystals on the surface. Freezing of streams and ponds occurs from the top down. Open water near the springs is crucial to the survival of deer, nonmigrating birds and other wildlife that have a difficult time finding fresh water in bitter cold weather.

Related Links:

• The Expansion of Water Upon Freezing
• Lake Ice
• NOAA's National Weather Service, Green Bay