Lake Michigan Shore Ice Buildup

February 06, 2013

LakeMichiganShoreIceIMG_4427

Photographer: Timothy Wenzel
Summary Author: Timothy Wenzel

Snowball fight anyone? This photo, taken on January 24, 2013, illustrates how ice on Lake Michigan's eastern shore can achieve heights of many feet; by accretion of floating snowball-size ice balls thrown upward by wave action. The maximum wave height (crest to trough) on Lake Michigan on this day was approximately 6 ft (2 m). What results is a landscape that looks almost volcanic. Click here to see video of this phenomenon. Note that the lake itself is a slurry of ice and water.

Photo Details: Camera: Canon EOS 550D; Lens: EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM; Focal Length: 200mm; Aperture: f/9.0; Exposure Time: 0.0008 s (1/1250); ISO equiv: 200.    

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