Frost Heave

All of the ice was gone today. However, we did get a nice frost last night. In fact, it meant that I got my photos before 9am.

First was this shot of the Red Oak’s leaves. So in the sheltered area the frost was lighter.

Acorn covered in ice yesterday.
The ice from yesterday was replaced with frost!

Another comparison, ice coated Honey Locust stump.

The ice was still there this morning, but additionally frosted!

All of ice had melted off the branches.



The white was frosted ice.

The ice on these lichens were replaced with frost!

The river rocks yesterday had a clear coat of ice. Now they were white!

A close up of the rocks.

Part of the path was covered with chunks of ice that had fallen off the tree above.

A closer look at the chunks!

Whoa, the chunks were not just random chunks. In fact, they were in the shape of the leaves from the tree.

Sleepy Daisy (Xanthisma texanum var. drummondii).

And final photo, frost heave around Briar’s print.

Close view! “Frost heaving (or a frost heave) is an upwards swelling of soil during freezing conditions caused by an increasing presence of ice as it grows towards the surface, upwards from the depth in the soil where freezing temperatures have penetrated into the soil (the freezing front or freezing boundary)”. Wikipedia.

While looking into frost heave and I ran across the term frost quake. I never had heard of this before. However I have witnessed ice quakes on a lake. Watch the video of frost quake, crazy! And a cute dog too. LOL

Indeed, it was nice to see the sunshine today!

Scientists made a new kind of ice that might exist on distant moons

Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant

Keep looking!

The more you know, the more you see and the more you see, the more you know

7 Comments

  1. Whoa, molded ice leaves and popping frost quakes! Super cool post today, Mary! I also appreciate the shout out to Dr. Wynn-Grant for Black History Month (and anytime).

    1. I watched several interviews she did. Amazing scientist! When as an undergrad she did a semester in Kenya….and never had been camping before. But fell in love with the big critters.

  2. I photographed ice leaves yesterday but forgot to send a pic to you Mary.
    Mine were coming off the Live Oaks and were oval just like the leaves. And it was a cool sound listening to them hitting the ground.
    We got to 56 today down here, up from 26 this am.

    1. Your temps were about the same as ours. Just glad I wasn’t under the tree when ice leaves were falling. Down the neck would have been cold 🥶

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