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CanisLupusArctos · 04-15-2008, 09:17 AM

Janet, looks like you're going to see those peepers frozen in at least twice this week. Last night we went down to 25 degrees and the open water re-froze by morning. It was comical watching the mergansers walking around on the same water they'd been swimming in yesterday. The peepers have made a little bit of noise already, so last night was freeze-in #1 for them.

I'd like to say they'll only be frozen in only one more time, but the next two nights actually hold pretty good chances for below-freezing. Don't worry, it's not because spring isn't here. Our cold nights this week are the result of good weather. Clear skies, calm wind and dry air allow the day's heat to rise away from the earth (radiational cooling, common in the desert at night.) Aiding this radiational cooling is the presence of the white lake ice, which acts as a giant reflector for directing the day's heat up & away.

This will continue until later in the week when we get enough daytime heat to keep us above freezing overnight even if we do get radiational cooling.

04-15-2008, 09:17 AM	#40
CanisLupusArctos Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,049 Thanks: 15 Thanked 472 Times in 107 Posts	Three times? Janet, looks like you're going to see those peepers frozen in at least twice this week. Last night we went down to 25 degrees and the open water re-froze by morning. It was comical watching the mergansers walking around on the same water they'd been swimming in yesterday. The peepers have made a little bit of noise already, so last night was freeze-in #1 for them. I'd like to say they'll only be frozen in only one more time, but the next two nights actually hold pretty good chances for below-freezing. Don't worry, it's not because spring isn't here. Our cold nights this week are the result of good weather. Clear skies, calm wind and dry air allow the day's heat to rise away from the earth (radiational cooling, common in the desert at night.) Aiding this radiational cooling is the presence of the white lake ice, which acts as a giant reflector for directing the day's heat up & away. This will continue until later in the week when we get enough daytime heat to keep us above freezing overnight even if we do get radiational cooling.