The Causes of Ice Thickness Fluctuation

The research investigates the causes of ice thickness fluctuation on 39 artificial water bodies in the Silesian Upland (southern Poland). The research was carried out over three consecutive winter seasons. The measurements and observations were planned every two days throughout the freezing and ablation of the ice, and every four days while there was an ice cover. The thickness of the ice cover and the snow layer overlaying it were measured each time. The findings demonstrate that the 35 water bodies analyzed all have a similar (quasi-natural) ice regime in which ice thickness fluctuation is primarily determined by air temperature and the thickness of the snow layer covering the ice. The ice thickness on such bodies of water does not differ much from that recorded on lakes in northern Poland, with average thicknesses ranging from 4 cm to 21 cm and maximum thicknesses ranging from 14 cm to 40 cm depending on the season. Four bodies of water had varying ice conditions; in their case, the average and maximum ice thickness were much lower. This was created by the entrance of warmer potamic water (quasi-natural regime) in the Niezdara N water body, whereas it was caused by discharges of warm mine water in Pod Borem, Sonicka, and Somerek (anthropogenic regime).

Author(s): Lucy Miller

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