Holly Icing

March 24, 2005

P2010117 copy

Provided by: Estee Lichter
Summary authors & editors: Estee Lichter; Jim Foster

This photo showing an impressive array of icicles adorning a holly tree was taken in Far Rockaway, New York on January 31, 2005. Just out of view, above the holly, is the overhang of a building with a slowly leaking gutter -- the source of the icicles. It's interesting how these icicles fanned out along the limbs. Ripples of water along a flow front will freeze when and where the surface temperature dips below 0 degrees C (32 degrees F). Icicles grow both downward and outward at the same time but at differing rates -- gravity assists the faster downward growth. All-in-all, a rather remarkable formation for a single drip source.

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