Why are some lakes still frozen and others not

[BronYrAur]

I know this is a little out of the relm of this forum, but it's still heat transfer.

I live in Northern Illinois right on the Wisconsin border. We have had very mild climate the past few weeks, with temps even getting into the 60's deg F on one day. I am puzzeld by how some lakes are still frozen enough to walk on (as evident by ice fishermen) while others are almost completely back to liquid. These are seemingly similar lakes within a few miles of each other.

Why the major difference in ice thickness/longevity? Water chemistry? Water depth?

 

[IRstuff]

Sure, amount of sun, air, wind, geology, geothermal, exposure, depth, chemistry, etc.

How much money did you have for studying this?

TTFN

Eng-Tips Policies FAQ731-376

 

[EdStainless]

The biggest factors are lake depth (water temp), wind, and snow cover. Once they start to melt and snow cover isn't a factor the 'color' of the ice and lake matter greatly. If the lake is dark it will absorb much more solar energy and melt faster.

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[kenvlach]

Also, ice on spring-fed lakes melts significantly sooner.

 

[rmw]

What is a frozen lake?

rmw

PS: My home town is Houston if you haven't guessed.

 

[doct9960]

BronYrAur,

This topic reminds me of a "Frontiers of Construction" episode that I have seen in the Discovery Channel (Canada). It was about a 500+ km winter road in the Northwest Territories. 85% of the road is over frozen lake and is just passable for only 2 months in a year.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/adventures/4212314.html?page=2

http://www.diavik.ca/iceroad.htm

Back to your original question, this article might give you a scientific answer...

http://aslo.org/lo/toc/vol_41/issue_5/0822.pdf