Another stupid question about ice...

[XemaSab]

So in Antarctica the ice reforms in concentric rings going outward... why doesn't the ice in the arctic form in concentric rings going inward? Why does it seem to reform mostly along the edges of the extant pack?

Right now the land should be colder than the sea, no? So why is the ice forming in the middle of the sea and not so much along the Alaskan, Canadian, and Russian coasts?

[northzax]

1. antarctic ice is land ice

arctic ice is sea ice. completely different formation patterns. and the shore is not neccesarily cooler than the open sea at this time, there is still residual heat and additional surface water movement by the shore this time of year.

[XemaSab]

2. O RLY?

[northzax]

3. yeah, you see that big white thing?

that's a continent. almost entirely covered with ice up to five miles thick. (with the notable exception of places like the McMurdo Dry Valleys and parts of the peninsula) there is, therefore, less residual heat and water motion from the terrestrial body to impair the formation of sea ice. ice forms, most efficiently, when attached to solid objects (including other ice)

you have, also, the added circular effect of the Antarctic Current and the predominating winds (which are also circular)

[XemaSab]

4. You see those pretty colors?

That's sea ice.

Capeesh? :P

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

5. This is a stupid question? Hell, I don't even understand the question.

Oh, I'm in the Environment Energy forum. Yikes.

[XemaSab]

6. RUN!!!!

:o

[OKIsItJustMe]

7. Two points

First Point: Antarctica is a land continent. It is mostly covered in ice, but it is not ice.


Second Point: Ice is a crystal, and like other crystals prefers to grow on a preexisting crystal form. A floating ice pack is essentially a large crystal, which is growing larger as more ice forms at its periphery.

Try an experiment. Put a container of water into your freezer, and see how the ice forms.

[XemaSab]

10. But right now the arctic coastline is snowy so there's ice there too.

:shrug:

[OKIsItJustMe]

11. A better explanation

This may help you to understand:

All About Sea Ice - Characteristics: Arctic vs. Antarctic

[XemaSab]

12. This is a really good explanation of the differences in pack ice

Thanks! :D

[Speck Tater]

8. Ice is frozen water. Duh! Ice forms only where there is water,...

and inland Antarctica is essentially an arctic desert getting negligible precipitation. No water (or snow) coming in, no water (or snow) to turn into ice.

[OKIsItJustMe]

9. Re: Duh!

... Antarctica is essentially an arctic desert ...

Well, an antarctic desert ;-), but, yes, by definition, it's a desert.