Cloud droplets.
Two things you need to know:
1. Cloud droplets are incredibly small and rely on the staying in the most energy efficient shape (a sphere) to prevent evaporation.
2. Ice crystals are not spheres.
As a result, cloud droplets stay in liquid form well past the freezing point, otherwise they would evaporate before they got a chance to freeze. In a lab setting, it has been observed that cloud droplets made up of pure water don't freeze until
-40 degrees Celsius. Since most natural cloud droplets are not pure water though, they freeze in the range of -10 to -30 degrees Celsius.
2007-05-09 03:51:41
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answer #1
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answered by wdmc 4
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The seawater here (Alaska) begins to skin over with ice at about 20 degrees F (air temp). If the temps are consistently below that, the ice will continue to thicken. As the ice grows, the remaining water becomes more saline (saltwater is not consistent in concentration, so the less salty water will freeze first), and will tolerate colder temps.
I've seen water temps down into the mid-20's, but it would take extended cold to get it lower than that. That's a lot of mass to cool.
Freshwater lakes will freeze at higher temperatures, so your coldest water will always be saline.
2007-05-09 10:17:01
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answer #2
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answered by lowflyer1 5
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First of all, the freezing point of water increases with a decrease in the pressure applied to it. Hence the
freezing point of water will be less at high altitude and low
pressure. But this effect is small. The freezing point of water
rises a mere hundredth of a degree per atmosphere of decrease in pressure.
Water collected at high altitude, for example water droplets in high-altitude clouds, is exceptionally pure. This
water will not freeze easily, because ordinarily water needs some "seed'' to grow a crystal of ice around. That seed is commonly a speck of dirt, salt or dust but there isn't either at
high altitude, so liquid water droplets exist up there down to
ridiculous temperatures, -30oC.
2007-05-09 08:34:23
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answer #3
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answered by michael_charge 2
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If the water contains salt the freezing temperature is lower. You can have water liquid at -21 Centigrade if add more salt than can be dissolve.
The high pressure under a glacier melt the ice.
2007-05-09 09:48:04
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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Sea water freezes at a temperature well below the freezing point of fresh water, but I can't remember what it would be.
IIRC, water in the Arctic Sea gets down to 0* or maybe colder while remaining liquid.
Sorry I can't be more helpful.
2007-05-09 08:15:21
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answer #5
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answered by Doc Hudson 7
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-10 c
2007-05-09 08:48:17
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answer #6
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answered by gussie1 1
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I don't know but I bet it corresponds with very salty water as that would lower the freezing point.
2007-05-09 08:15:49
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answer #7
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answered by Johnny 7
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