icicles

[kmac]

While hiking on the Nineteen Mile brook this weekend, I noticed these "ribbon like" icicles that formed on moss outcropping. Does anyone know how these icicles form and if there is a name for them.

 

[poison ivy]

My understanding is those ribbon icicles are frost heaves, created when moist soil expands in freezing and thawing cycles. They are always neat to see!

- Ivy

 

[kmac]

Thanks! Isn't mother nature amazing..

 

[David Metsky]

Like this?

-dave-

 

[grouseking]

saw that last weekend...looked like candy! There was a ton of it on the Lonesome Lake trail...it kept things interesting on an otherwise fairly boring trail to the lake.

grouseking

 

[kmac]

Like this?

-dave-

yes! nice pic.

 

[Nessmuk]

Like this?
-dave-

Any of you cavers out there may know of cave formations called "gypsum flowers", which look strikingly similar. These are not of ice, but calcium sulfate.

http://www.goodearthgraphics.com/virtcave/flowers/gypsum.html

 

[kmac]

frost flowers and ice ribbons

http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/almanac/arc2005/alm05feb.htm

I found this website explaining how these "frost flowers and ice ribbons", as they are called, are created.