Experiments on the Growth of Spongy Ice Near a Stagnant Point

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Lock, G.S.H., Foster, I.B.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1990
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000009370; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000009370

Abstract The paper presents experimental observations on the growth of spongy ice in the vicinity of the forward stagnation point of a disc situated in a cross flow containing supercooled water droplets. Following some preliminary observations, the discussion focuses on two quantities: the ice fraction and the rate of growth of the accretion. The data presented reveal the effects of air speed, air temperature, liquid-water content, and salinity. They also suggest two morphological regimes: at higher air temperatures, the growth appeared to be crystalline columnar; at lower temperatures, smaller crystals appeared to be randomly distributed, producing a mushy accretion.