Warm ice is formed when the water temperature is in the mid 30 range and is too warm to freeze. When the air temperature plunges the ice that results (up to 2-3 inches) is a low density or warm ice.
Warm ice will transform into cold ice as the water temperatures drop. During this process the ice contracts (becoming denser). Evidence of this contraction is the stress cracks that form and the attendant water flow up on top of the ice pack.
Once the ice pack has transformed ice thickness will increase at a rapid rate.
I am probably one of the few true ice observers out there that actually monitor the process week to week and document it. How weird a interest is that?
