Lake Ice and 
Snow Science 

Lake Ice: Temporal Variability

Data has been collected at MST Pond (PFRR) since November 1999.

The temporal variability of the snow depth and ice thickness (right) is significant. Maximum ice thickness values range from 0.62m in 2001 to 0.91m in 2003 (mean for the 6 years is 0.76m ± 0.10).

Ice composition also varies from year-to-year (below). In 2002, snow ice did not contribute anything to the total ice thickness at MST Pond. In 2005, over 50% of the ice thickness was made up of snow ice.

QUESTIONS: What early winter phenomenon produced the very thick ice cover in 2002-2003?

Is there some connection between the amount of snow ice in the 2005 ice cover and its relative thinness?