Thread: Iceout 2011
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Old 03-08-2011, 07:17 PM   #13
DickR
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Default water is heaviest at 39 f

BT, you are right to be suspicious of temps being 39 at 2 ft and only 32 at 10 ft at the same time. That would be unstable, since water is at maximum density at about 39 F (4 C). If water were most dense at 32 F, nature would have to chill the whole lake to 32 to get the top layer to stay at 32 and permit freezing over. Circulators to keep docks ice-free wouldn't work either.
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