2007-02-17 03:57:25 · 13 answers · asked by apple 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
If the lake is shallow, and the winter long and cold enough, a lake can indeed freeze to the bottom.
2007-02-17 04:47:44 · answer #1 · answered by Jerry P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A small calm lake will freeze up if the weather remains cold for a long period of time, unfortunately the lakes that most people see usually start to freeze up in November and thaw out in April or May depending on how far north you are. On friday I went ice fishing and the ice was about 14 inches thick but last week the ice was only about 11 inches thick, 4 weeks ago there was no ice, the weather today is about 0 deg F, and the ice will be thicker today. The area of the lake that I fish on is only 10 feet deep in the summer so if the weather continues like this for 4-5 months then this part of the lake will freeze solid. and yes I caught 2 lake trout yesterday.
2007-02-17 04:18:10 · answer #2 · answered by Waalee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ice is less dense than liquid water and so the surface will freeze first. Then, that ice acts like an insulator to keep the entire lake from freezing.
2007-02-17 04:01:29 · answer #3 · answered by hcbiochem 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the reason the entire lake does not freeze is because the ice acts as an insolator the water freezes to a surtain depth and all the water below that is exactally 10° and water freezes when it gets below 10°. if ice did not flote then the entire lake would freeze
2007-02-17 04:04:10 · answer #4 · answered by Thomas T 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Except in areas with permafrost the temperature of the ground the lake is in is a pretty constant 42 degrees F. Same reason why buried water mains don't freeze in winter and the cold water tap is still cold water in the summer.
2007-02-17 05:23:34 · answer #5 · answered by U-98 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ice is less dense than liquid water, thus the ice forms at the surface (floating) rather than the bottom. Ice also insulates the lower water and keeps it liquid awhile, but,as the other answerer states, if it gets cold enough, the entire thing will freeze.
2007-02-17 04:02:55 · answer #6 · answered by kentucky 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ice that forms on the surface insulates the rest of the water. Time is the key. Eventually all the water would freeze if the temp. stayed cold enough long enough.
2007-02-17 04:01:12 · answer #7 · answered by Michael S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends on how cold it is and how long it lasts. The surface is exposed the most meaning it gets coldest first but most water has under water cureents. The currents make it harder for it to freeze
2007-02-17 04:06:34 · answer #8 · answered by uneedhelp20 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
water exibits a behaviour ;it contracts on heating between 0 degree c to 4 degree c,instead of expanding.so it has maximum density at 4degree c&least volume.
in colder regions the atmospheric temp.remain generally below 0degree c.so water at the surface begins to freeze .as it has max density at 4degree c,the water at the bottom remains at 4degree c.the upper surface is in the form of ice &the water layer in contact with ice is at 0degree c.as ice is bad conductor of heat it prevent the further flow of heat from water to atmosphere.so water below the surface don't freeze as it remains at 4degree centrigate.
i hope it will help u.
2007-02-17 04:57:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its about the salinity of the water.............. salinity is the salt content of the water......... when the top surface freezes its salt content sinks because of its density........... note: water that has higher salinity takes more time to freeze rather than the water with less salinity
2007-02-17 11:09:04 · answer #10 · answered by adamantine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋