Ice cracking

[rksportsmed7]

I have been out recently.  Been on smaller sized lakes.  Why does the ice make big cracking sounds when sitting or walking.  There were more, louder sounds, when I was with a buddy.   The ice was about 7-10 inches thick.  Anyone want to shed a little light on the topic?  And should I be careful?

[arrowhead]

If it was cold enough if could be making ice. Im not sure about this one but, if the sun is shinning on it it warms it up a bit and causes it to expand.

    arrowhead

[asphalt_kid]

Yep noisy ice is what we call alive ice, its makin ice and the noise is from the pressure of this occuring.
I love the sounds of this when it is occuring. Music to my ears.

[Axhandle]

Cracking ice is music to my ears too.  Bad music.  Call me "chicken", I don't care.  I absolutely hate having a crack popping right under my bucket.  I don't care if the ice is 15" thick, the cracking ice gives me the willies.  I fell through a stock pond when I was kid.  Still have bad memories of this.

[captaincrappie]

Hey Arrowhead water or ice expand when its cold so the noise is expanding ice  when water warms up it actually shrinks.

[arrowhead]

O yeah... i should of known that from my chemistry class!