Ice Straws in Stream

DrRod · Feb 17, 2019

We have a small stream running through our yard and today noticed these little tubes of ice springing up along the way. Can anyone say how they are formed and if there is a name for them? Thanks.

Motorboatin · Feb 17, 2019

It is called frost flower or hair ice. Hair ice is fine strands of ice so you are probably seeing frost flower

MossRoad · Feb 17, 2019

DrRod said:
We have a small stream running through our yard and today noticed these little tubes of ice springing up along the way. Can anyone say how they are formed and if there is a name for them? Thanks.

Very neat. Here's some reading...

Frost flower - Wikipedia

fishheadbob · Feb 17, 2019

Hoar frost. I thought that's what it was so I googled it. Happens right when the temp drops below freezing with some moisture around like from recent rain. I haven't seen the term since an English Lit course back in the 60s, which caused us sophomore boys to giggle, well, sophomoricly. Obviously not a term we use too awful much anymore. I like frost flower more.

MossRoad · Feb 17, 2019

fishheadbob said:
Hoar frost. I thought that's what it was so I googled it. Happens right when the temp drops below freezing with some moisture around like from recent rain. I haven't seen the term since an English Lit course back in the 60s, which caused us sophomore boys to giggle, well, sophomoricly. Obviously not a term we use too awful much anymore. I like frost flower more.

I don't think that's hoar frost.

hoar frost - Google Search

oosik · Feb 17, 2019

Never seen anything like that - it's pretty. We would get a condition - not pretty at all - in AK. It would get so cold that "ice lenaicules" would form in the rapid flowing water of smaller streams. At first you would look at the water and it looked slightly milky. Look closely and there were long - 2" to 3" - silvers of ice. Flowing right along with the water.

Over time these lenaicules would sink to the bottom of the stream and freeze there. This would effectively raise the stream bed. In a day or two the stream would be flooding out of its banks. There are two beautiful streams flowing right thru metropolitan Anchorage that would do this almost every winter. Chester Cr & Campbell Cr. Every winter - major alarm - several very expensive subdivisions were being flooded. The gov Public Works Dept would come to the rescue and flush out these streams. Had to be accomplished about 2X weekly. At taxpayers expense.

Finally the GOV got smart. Let the homeowners pay for this thru their insurance policies. The insurance companies balked because the homes were built in dedicated flood planes. The HOA's took the GOV to court and lost - miserably. So - every year it cost between $750K to $1.5 million to have this accomplished.

The HOA's were good for this one activity. They made assessments against each property and forced collection.

I laugh every time I think about this. My recommendation( Environmental Health Dept ) and the Public Works Dept recommendations to the Planning Commission and the Municipal Assembly - DO NOT ALLOW DEVELOPMENT IN THE FLOOD PLANES OF THESE TWO CREEKS.

Money - under the table, talked - the developments were approved.

There was nothing more enjoyable than bringing this old situation to the attention of the Planning Commission & Municipal Assembly in subsequent years. It was even better than rubbing rock salt in an open wound.

s219 · Feb 17, 2019

Seen those a lot this winter since we have had a lot of rain followed by freezing temps. I think the ice just expands upward out of the soil. Always neat to see.

k0ua · Feb 17, 2019

We see them all the time around here too.

turnkey4099 · Feb 18, 2019

oosik said:
Never seen anything like that - it's pretty. We would get a condition - not pretty at all - in AK. It would get so cold that "ice lenaicules" would form in the rapid flowing water of smaller streams. At first you would look at the water and it looked slightly milky. Look closely and there were long - 2" to 3" - silvers of ice. Flowing right along with the water.

Over time these lenaicules would sink to the bottom of the stream and freeze there. This would effectively raise the stream bed. In a day or two the stream would be flooding out of its banks. There are two beautiful streams flowing right thru metropolitan Anchorage that would do this almost every winter. Chester Cr & Campbell Cr. Every winter - major alarm - several very expensive subdivisions were being flooded. The gov Public Works Dept would come to the rescue and flush out these streams. Had to be accomplished about 2X weekly. At taxpayers expense.

Finally the GOV got smart. Let the homeowners pay for this thru their insurance policies. The insurance companies balked because the homes were built in dedicated flood planes. The HOA's took the GOV to court and lost - miserably. So - every year it cost between $750K to $1.5 million to have this accomplished.

The HOA's were good for this one activity. They made assessments against each property and forced collection.

I laugh every time I think about this. My recommendation( Environmental Health Dept ) and the Public Works Dept recommendations to the Planning Commission and the Municipal Assembly - DO NOT ALLOW DEVELOPMENT IN THE FLOOD PLANES OF THESE TWO CREEKS.

Money - under the table, talked - the developments were approved.

There was nothing more enjoyable than bringing this old situation to the attention of the Planning Commission & Municipal Assembly in subsequent years. It was even better than rubbing rock salt in an open wound.

Since ice is lighter than water, what is making those lenaicules (?lenticules?) sink? I Can't find " lenaicules" via google.

oosik · Feb 18, 2019

Honestly - I think your spelling is correct. I tried four time with spell check - gave up. The "ice slivers" do not sink to the bottom. They become so thick in the water that - at first - a few will stick somewhere. Then after that it's a simple progression. Once a few - then more. Finally there is a place on the creek where they are really jammed/piled up. Water will back up behind this "pile up" and overflow the banks.

The "normal" water temp in the creek when this happens is - +28F or +29F. YES - it is below freezing. The water movement of the creek is what keeps things flowing. When the water backs up and slows down - the creek itself begins to freeze. It becomes a real mess.

I misspoke when I said they sink to the bottom. They will usually "catch up" or "stick" to something on the bottom. Water movement is always slower at the water/dirt interface. This is where you find the beginning of the problem.