View Full Version : Needle Ice
SkeeterPee
11-02-2019, 00:20
How common is it to see ice needles on the AT. My bother and I were in SNP this morning hiking from Skyland to Thornton Gap and encountered it in several places about 8:30am. it had rained over night and air temps dropped to 30F this morning.
It was my first time seeing ice needles.
The AT is a lot of places.
Needle ice occurs in a lot of places.
Those muddy looking spots that crunch underfoot...that can be needle ice, too(or just frozen mud!). Something to do with water in the soil moving toward, and adding to, ice on the surface for whatever reason. I've read about it before, and think there were several contributing factors, like ground temp, soil type or whatever. Pretty neat, but it wasn't THAT interesting.
Ask Google. Google knows everything;)
Traveler
11-02-2019, 07:09
It's a pretty common phenomenon from what I've seen over the years. Typically this will occur when the soil temperature is above freezing and the air temperature is below freezing, water in/under the soil migrates to the surface in a capillary action and freezes. As more water draws out of the soil the needles get longer. Sometimes the sculptures made by this phenomenon are very complex and photogenic.
I see it fairly often around here.
it's nice to find the ice form at the base of plant stems
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=41209&d=1513443478
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=41210&d=1513443518
Puddlefish
11-02-2019, 14:44
I've never heard of or seen this before. Neat to learn it exists.
gpburdelljr
11-02-2019, 15:17
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Needle_ice
Turtle-2013
11-02-2019, 17:05
Regular occurrence here in the winter ... often I have to walk through yards of it to get to take care of the chickens. We have particular places it happens, while most of the ground is just frozen.
I usually see it in the fall when the nights start dipping below freezing. It usually turns to mud once it warms enough to thaw later in the morning.
it's nice to find the ice form at the base of plant stems
Friend of mine in the NC mountains put this up yesterday, and I thought of your post here when I saw it.
I don't know that it's "needle ice", but it's pretty cool.
45815
MtDoraDave
11-04-2019, 07:34
I didn't know what it was called (until just now), but I have seen it several times in the southern portion of the AT.
Hikes in Rain
11-04-2019, 09:53
Found this between Newfound Gap and Fontana, several Novembers ago.
45816
gpburdelljr
11-04-2019, 10:24
Friend of mine in the NC mountains put this up yesterday, and I thought of your post here when I saw it.
I don't know that it's "needle ice", but it's pretty cool.
45815
That looks like a dandelion seed, or some similar seed with “parachute” hairs to be spread by the wind.
Friend of mine in the NC mountains put this up yesterday, and I thought of your post here when I saw it.
I don't know that it's "needle ice", but it's pretty cool.
45815
It is cool looking. Looks like milkweed seeds with it's fluff.
Traillium
11-04-2019, 11:20
It is cool looking. Looks like milkweed seeds with it's fluff.
Agreed
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Night Train
11-04-2019, 12:41
It's a pretty common phenomenon from what I've seen over the years. Typically this will occur when the soil temperature is above freezing and the air temperature is below freezing, water in/under the soil migrates to the surface in a capillary action and freezes. As more water draws out of the soil the needles get longer. Sometimes the sculptures made by this phenomenon are very complex and photogenic.
Very cool, thanks!
It is cool looking. Looks like milkweed seeds with it's fluff.
Yes. I just assumed that was frost around the bottom, because he was commenting on the low temps. Maybe he just meant the seed pods opening was a sign of the season.
But it looks frosty!:p
The needle ice I see is in the ground and looks vaguely like ribbon candy. It crunches when I step on it.
methodman
11-04-2019, 14:30
Frost heaving.
methodman
11-04-2019, 14:32
Natural soil aeration.
gpburdelljr
11-04-2019, 15:37
There are all kinds of interesting ice growths.
Needle Ice
http://my.ilstu.edu/~jrcarter/ice/needle/
Hair Ice
http://my.ilstu.edu/~jrcarter/ice/hair/
Ice Flowers
http://my.ilstu.edu/~jrcarter/ice/flowers/
Pebble Ice
http://my.ilstu.edu/~jrcarter/ice/pebble/
Daniel-J
11-05-2019, 02:29
I like the effect when severe frosts suddenly come and all plants are covered with ice, it looks like another world or a fairy tale. Especially if you look at this effect through a magnifying glass or other similar devices, an amazing sight.
severe frost out west:
http://icons.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/c/cherylpowder/91-800.jpg
https://amoralegria.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/pogonip2.jpg