How does water do this?

[beatnavy]

Already, can someone 'splain to me how this occurred? My wife left this Tupperware container on our deck a couple of days ago with leftover berries for the birdies. Fills up with rain, we get temps in the 20's last night, and this is what I find this morning.

[shadowjack1]

thats strange to say the least

[Bob Kontak]

No drip down from above?

[KFC911]

Frozen wet dream....

[cabmandone]

Maybe it called Roman or Hims?

Going with a drip from above like Bob said.

[beatnavy]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

No drip down from above?

There's an eave from the 2nd story, but it's 8 or more feet off to the side. And I see no evidence of dripping anywhere around. So I don't think so. Temps were in the 30's during the day yesterday. Then got to around 20 last night.

[plexiform]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RLQ9WMP2Es

[cabmandone]

High winds by any chance? I think my brother mentioned it was pretty windy in NOVA

[Sooner or later]

https://www.physics.utoronto.ca/~smorris/edl/icespikes/icespikes.html


The short explanation is this: as the ice freezes fast under supercooled conditions, the surface can get covered except for a small hole. Water expands when it freezes. As freezing continues, the expanding ice under the surface forces the remaining water up through the hole and it freezes around the edge forming a hollow spike. Eventually, the whole thing freezes and the spike is left.

[beatnavy]

Ah yes, an ice spike. That explanation makes perfect sense. Based on that video above the temps were right where they needed to be, and it WAS pretty windy here in NoVA the last 2 days. And that video explains why it has a triangular base (sumpin' to do with molecular geometry).

Very cool.

[p911dad]

Here's a crazy big one at Letchworth State Park in NY State (to be honest, this formed from a fountain in the park during a week of sub-zero weather).

[pete3799]

If it lasts more than 4 hours call your doctor.

[wdfifteen]

Very cool thread. Thanks!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by plexiform

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RLQ9WMP2Es

Thanks...and here is your embed.....

[beatnavy]

I finally realized what it reminded me of: the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico! Semper Fi to all my Marine Corps "brethren"

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by plexiform

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RLQ9WMP2Es

Fantastic.

[berettafan]

That is cool! Thanks for posting

[Starless]

I think it was just happy to see you.