Ice Thickness

[brahambaseball]

Hi, I'm new to the Forum, I'm Jesse from Burnsville

My buddy and I are having a debate about the thickness of ice of the lake. We are wondering... If there is a path traveled on a lake, either plowed or packed snow from many vehicles, if that ice is thicker than the rest of the lake ice, or if that ice is more thin? or possibly the same.

I'm saying the ice is thicker. My idea behind this is on roads, the frost is driven down deeper by more traffic.

He's saying its thinner, because its the first part of the ice to melt away in the spring.

Any ideas!?!?

[RonWBasser]

Sometimes over a road or packed path it is thicker. It's thicker from the fact that the ice doesn't get insulated from the snow, so the cold air can get to it and freeze it down easier.

It's melts away from the same areas faster in the spring for the same reason. No snow to keep it away from the sun, and the sun heats those areas easier so it melts faster there.

So you both are sort of correct in my opinion.

[BartmanMN]

I would say that since there is no snow on the roads that the ice would get thicker since it is not insulated. However in the spring, since it is not insulated it may start melting faster as a result.

[brahambaseball]

Makes sense to me. I'll still tell him I'm correct

jk!

[opsirc]

The ice would be thicker, the same as if you clear snow off an area the frost will go deeper, because the lack of snow [which acts as insulation] allows it to go deeper.

[Sandmannd]

I agree with all here that it would be thicker. The one thing I would say is that the thicker part is partially if not all "bad" ice as it's probobly slush that re-froze or what not.

[BuckKiller]

plus the roads usually have road salt and gravel on them, so they melt faster

[Hard617]

I have one question though. as your'e driving, you can obviously hear cracking as you are driving. does this make the ice under/near the roads weaker having many more cracks in it rather than in other areas that are less traveled?