Interesting and strange ice patterns in Sierra Lakes

[genetastic]

I was just reviewing my recent SHR section hike (Road's End to Bishop Pass Trail), looking at satellite photos of my route, and came across these interesting icy lake shots. Can anyone explain them?

Marion Lake with giant snowflake shapes:

Frozen Lake with strange tracks:

frozen lake.png (813.91 KiB) Viewed 129 times

[balzaccom]

No idea. First one looks like classic crystal forms. Second one almost looks like the result of someone walking on it.

Wild, though!

[kpeter]

I'm not suggesting that this is it--but I did once see dirt and even boulders on top of the ice at Little McGee--obviously fallen there during winter rockfall. That would alter the ice melt on that lake.

Agree with Balzacom that the first one looks like a reverse crystal formation, much like a snowflake.

I also wonder about currents in the lakes that might thin the ice. I am reminded of this when I see a lake that is way down or dry during the drought--the bottom of such lakes show stream patterns in the mud. I wonder if the way water moves through a lake could produce different melt patterns.

I bet our resident geologist might have a theory!

[Jim F]

Fractal geometry in melting ice on Marion Lake.

Jim