Bitter Cold Grips Europe

February 11, 2012

GenevaIce-0002 (2)

Photographer: Bjorn Sothmann; Bjorn's Web site
Summary Author: Bjorn Sothmann

The photo above showing ice coating this breakwater in Geneva, Switzerland was taken on February 4, 2012. Breaking waves from Lake Geneva are freezing upon contact with the frigid metal and concrete surfaces. Blizzards and bitter cold air during this prolonged cold spell have killed several hundred people across Europe. Temperatures in parts of Romania reached -26 F (-32 C) -- even the Black Sea froze over in places. The temperature in Geneva when this picture was snapped was 14 F (-10 C). Fierce winds from the so called bise, a local wind that blows between the Jura Mountains and the French Alps, were responsible for whipping the waters of Lake Geneva.

Photo details: Camera Maker: Canon; Camera Model: Canon EOS 600D; Lens: EF-S18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS; Focal Length: 31mm; Scene intelligent auto mode; Aperture: f/11.0; Exposure Time: 0.0040 s (1/250); ISO equiv: 100; Exposure Bias: none; Metering Mode: Matrix; Exposure: program (Auto); White Balance: Auto; Flash Fired: No (enforced); Orientation: Normal; Color Space: sRGB; Software: digiKam-2.5.0.