Sharp Ice Sheet Crystal Edge Over Creek In Frigid Winter Weather Stock Image

Bitter cold temperatures in central NewYork formed sheets of ice across streams and creeks. Ice patterns formed from this cold. As creek water cools, it releases heat that turns into frazil ice. A collection of loose, needle shaped ice particles that can cluster together. Under turbulent flowing water conditions, ice freezes in a less orderly and transparent way than in calm water conditions. Frazil ice is usually smaller than one inch in length and is shaped like sharp-pointed objects or small disks below freezing. These particles are generally smaller than about one inch and tend to stick to each other in very cold water. Frazil forms in the top inch or so of the moving surface water because the water there is colder than the water below.