Ice Formation Question

[iceman_phil]

Once a lake locks up, is it better for the winds to remain calm or does the ice form faster with a cold wind blowing across it?  Kind of like a wind chill effect....Let's assume there is no snow on the ice....

Phil

[mschma000]

Wind Chill has nothing to do with forming ice.  It is all about the actual temp.

[Rebelfisher]

wind chill is a man made term, it has no effect on non living things. Wind chill refers to what temp YOUR body feels like. Since we are warm blooded, we are surrounded by a thin layer of warmer air around us...blowing wind literally blows that layer off us and you get "wind chill effect".  If anything, windy conditions causes ice to weaken and break up..you want clear, calm conditions for good ice making.

[minnowdrowner]

I always thought that once there is a layer of ice wind actually helps. Once a lake is iced up, the ice grows from underneath, wind blowing across the top of the ice helps dissipate (sp?) heat transfering from the unfrozen water to the ice on top. It doesn't really have anything to do with "wind chill" as Rebel stated, as it is a relative temp term. I could very easily be wrong but that's what I have always thought. $.02

[LoneRock]

This explains it, a bit like watching the show big bang theory.

http://www.blueiceonline.com/howsite/lakeice_about.html

[eriksat1]

Another thing that's happening is as the ice keeps making, it cracks and floats up. That is why the other day I was out there and it was loud as can be cracking like thunder felt like earthquakes, even the water in my holes were bouncing and I was sitting still and the only one on the lake. That is the ice breaking loose and floating up as it makes more ice. Like ice in a glass of water, a certain percentage of the ice floats up above the water line, so as ice builds it wants to float up higher.

[Rebelfisher]

water is unique as it is the only liquid to expand when it freezes. They are harmless for the most part. Nothing to worry about.

[eriksat1]

That is why you have to watch out for ice heaves. One side of the crack floats up but the other side of the crack stay down, then they freeze together like that creating a giant speed bump. I have seen more than one snowmobiler go flying hitting one of these out on the lake. I did a superman once myself. lol