Frost flower (sea ice)

This article is about formations on sea ice and lake ice. For extrusions formed on freezing plants, see frost flower.
Frost flowers growing on young sea ice in the Arctic

Frost flowers are ice crystals commonly found growing on young sea ice and thin lake ice in cold, calm conditions. The ice crystals are similar to hoar frost, and are commonly seen to grow in patches around 3–4 cm in diameter. Frost flowers growing on sea ice have extremely high salinities and concentrations of other sea water chemicals and, because of their high surface area, are efficient releasers of these chemicals into the atmosphere.[1][2][3]

  1. ^ "Mystery of frost flower growth explained - environment". New Scientist. 20 May 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  2. ^ "University of Leeds - Christmassy frost flowers - or symbols of climate change?". Leeds.ac.uk. 2009-12-17. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  3. ^ Roscoe, H. K.; Brooks, B.; Jackson, A. V.; Smith, M. H.; Walker, S. J.; Obbard, R. W.; Wolff, E. W. (2011). "Frost flowers in the laboratory: Growth, characteristics, aerosol, and the underlying sea ice". Journal of Geophysical Research. 116 (D12): D12301. Bibcode:2011JGRD..11612301R. doi:10.1029/2010JD015144.