Translated material
In the forest near St. Petersburg they noticed "shaggy ice"
The biologist and popularizer of science Pavel Glazkov noticed a rare natural phenomenon in the forest in the Vsevozsky district of the Leningrad region, which is called “icy hair”, “hairy ice”, “snow flowers” or “shaggy ice”. Photos and description of unusual threads of ice on trees are published in the Glazkov group.
According to the biologist, these threads reminded him of a web or snow from afar. But it turned out that this is precisely the “furry ice”. As the specialist explained, with high humidity, very thin and fragile threads of ice appear on the old rotting sticks of deciduous rocks, which can curl into “waves” and “curls”. They support their form from several hours to several days. A rare natural phenomenon can be observed only in the northern hemisphere between the 45th and 60th parallels.
- For the appearance of this miracle of nature, a temperature below 0 degrees and very high humidity is required. Moisture, which is in wood, freezes at the surface. The ice goes to the surface through thin pores of wood. Tiny ice "tubercles" are formed. And then each such “tubercle” continues to pull out water from his own, which, in turn, freezes - “tubercle” grows, turning into a “thread” (effect as in a meat grinder). This process continues until moisture is present in the wood.
The natural phenomenon is based on the Exidiopsis Effusa mushroom, Glazkov notes with reference to the 2015 study conducted by German and Swiss scientists. This mushroom produces molecules for the decomposition of wood, which, dissolving in water, may impede the formation of large ice crystals.
In addition to Glazkov, “furry ice” was found by other Petersburgers. “All rotten sticks were covered with the finest pile of frozen steam! They looked completely amazing among the pitch raw forest. We did not even immediately guess what this white flashes everywhere among dark branches and foliage, ” wrote in the group about campaigns.
At the beginning of 2020, biologist Pavel Glazkov noticed circles of ice on Lake Ladoga, which are also called “pancakes” or “saucers”.
Read also an interview about how Petersburgers “hunt” the northern lights and where they can admire them. The co -founder of the Aurora Hunters community tells.