Presentation Information
[O12-P68]A New Proposal for a Method to Recreate Frost Flowers on Lake Ice Using a Household Freezer
*Hayato NAKAYAMA1, *Kyohei FUCHINA1 (1. CHUO UNIVERSITY JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL)
Keywords:
Frost flowers,Reproduction Experiment
1. Background and Objectives
Frost flowers (hereinafter abbreviated as FF) are a natural phenomenon in which water vapor adheres to the ice of frozen seas or lakes, forming crystals that develop into structures resembling flowers (Fig.1). The mechanism behind the formation of FF is explained as follows: water vapor sublimates from the ice due to heat supplied by the warm water beneath the ice, forming a persistent layer of supersaturated water vapor on the ice surface. In this environment, protrusions and depressions on the ice surface act as nucleation sites, causing the water vapor to condense and form seed crystals, which then grow through the continuous condensation of water vapor. Previous studies on replication experiments include one that reproduced FF on sea ice using a low-temperature chamber and glass beads to investigate the mechanism of brine upwelling (Funahashi et al., 2020), and another that reproduced FF on sea ice and lake ice using a centrifugal fan and a refrigerated chamber to investigate its growth patterns and ion composition (H. K. Roscoe et al., 2011). However, all of these require large facilities and equipment, and no small-scale experiments have been reported. Furthermore, while there are experiments simulating FF on sea ice, there are almost none on lake ice. Therefore, the objective of this study is to establish a new method for simulating FF on lake ice using a household freezer.
2. Research Methods
2-1 Presence of Holes on the Ice Surface (Fig.2)
The objective was to reproduce FF by creating holes in the ice surface to promote the formation of ice crystals on the surface and allow sublimation from the supersaturated water vapor layer to occur from all directions.
1. Fill a styrofoam block with tap water at 20°C (①2500 ml, ②1250 ml).
2. Confirm that only the surface of the water has frozen, then use an ice pick to drill three evenly spaced holes through the ice at the center. Leave the block in the freezer overnight.
2-2 Use of a Steam Supply Device with a Bubbler (Fig.3)
The aim was to reproduce FF by blowing steam using a bubbler (Tsuruta, 2024).
2-3 Reproduction of FF Using a Bubbler and a Homemade Box-Shaped Mechanism.
The aim was to shorten the experimental time by using a homemade box-shaped mechanism. (Fig.4)
3. Results
The results of 2-1 are shown in Fig.5. Although the crystals formed on the ice surface grew in multiple directions rather than a specific one, no crystals with leaf-like patterns growing from the ice surface were observed, and the formed crystals did not exhibit omnidirectional growth characteristic of FF. Based on the above, we concluded that FF did not form under the conditions of 2-1. The results of 2-2 are shown in Fig.6. These crystals closely resembled the FF in Figure 1 and developed in all directions. Based on this, we concluded that FF was formed under the conditions of 2-2. The results of 2-3 are shown in Fig.7. These crystals developed in all directions, similar to those in Figure 1, and closely resembled the crystals obtained in 2-2. Therefore, it was suggested that using 2-3 allows for the formation of similar crystals in a shorter time.
4. Discussion
Based on the results of Section 2-1, two factors can be identified as reasons why FF did not occur: first, the water vapor that sublimated and evaporated escaped outside the polystyrene foam, making it difficult for a supersaturated layer to form; and second, the amount of water vapor was insufficient. Therefore, in Section 2-2, the crystals obtained in Section 2-1 were repurposed as seed crystals (ice nuclei), a lid was placed on the apparatus, and water vapor was supplied using a bubbler. As a result, the formation of ice crystals identified as FF was confirmed. Furthermore, the experimental results in Section 2-3 demonstrated that FF can be reproduced in a short period of time. Based on the above, the method proposed in this study is considered effective as an inexpensive indoor experimental method for reproducing FF.
Frost flowers (hereinafter abbreviated as FF) are a natural phenomenon in which water vapor adheres to the ice of frozen seas or lakes, forming crystals that develop into structures resembling flowers (Fig.1). The mechanism behind the formation of FF is explained as follows: water vapor sublimates from the ice due to heat supplied by the warm water beneath the ice, forming a persistent layer of supersaturated water vapor on the ice surface. In this environment, protrusions and depressions on the ice surface act as nucleation sites, causing the water vapor to condense and form seed crystals, which then grow through the continuous condensation of water vapor. Previous studies on replication experiments include one that reproduced FF on sea ice using a low-temperature chamber and glass beads to investigate the mechanism of brine upwelling (Funahashi et al., 2020), and another that reproduced FF on sea ice and lake ice using a centrifugal fan and a refrigerated chamber to investigate its growth patterns and ion composition (H. K. Roscoe et al., 2011). However, all of these require large facilities and equipment, and no small-scale experiments have been reported. Furthermore, while there are experiments simulating FF on sea ice, there are almost none on lake ice. Therefore, the objective of this study is to establish a new method for simulating FF on lake ice using a household freezer.
2. Research Methods
2-1 Presence of Holes on the Ice Surface (Fig.2)
The objective was to reproduce FF by creating holes in the ice surface to promote the formation of ice crystals on the surface and allow sublimation from the supersaturated water vapor layer to occur from all directions.
1. Fill a styrofoam block with tap water at 20°C (①2500 ml, ②1250 ml).
2. Confirm that only the surface of the water has frozen, then use an ice pick to drill three evenly spaced holes through the ice at the center. Leave the block in the freezer overnight.
2-2 Use of a Steam Supply Device with a Bubbler (Fig.3)
The aim was to reproduce FF by blowing steam using a bubbler (Tsuruta, 2024).
2-3 Reproduction of FF Using a Bubbler and a Homemade Box-Shaped Mechanism.
The aim was to shorten the experimental time by using a homemade box-shaped mechanism. (Fig.4)
3. Results
The results of 2-1 are shown in Fig.5. Although the crystals formed on the ice surface grew in multiple directions rather than a specific one, no crystals with leaf-like patterns growing from the ice surface were observed, and the formed crystals did not exhibit omnidirectional growth characteristic of FF. Based on the above, we concluded that FF did not form under the conditions of 2-1. The results of 2-2 are shown in Fig.6. These crystals closely resembled the FF in Figure 1 and developed in all directions. Based on this, we concluded that FF was formed under the conditions of 2-2. The results of 2-3 are shown in Fig.7. These crystals developed in all directions, similar to those in Figure 1, and closely resembled the crystals obtained in 2-2. Therefore, it was suggested that using 2-3 allows for the formation of similar crystals in a shorter time.
4. Discussion
Based on the results of Section 2-1, two factors can be identified as reasons why FF did not occur: first, the water vapor that sublimated and evaporated escaped outside the polystyrene foam, making it difficult for a supersaturated layer to form; and second, the amount of water vapor was insufficient. Therefore, in Section 2-2, the crystals obtained in Section 2-1 were repurposed as seed crystals (ice nuclei), a lid was placed on the apparatus, and water vapor was supplied using a bubbler. As a result, the formation of ice crystals identified as FF was confirmed. Furthermore, the experimental results in Section 2-3 demonstrated that FF can be reproduced in a short period of time. Based on the above, the method proposed in this study is considered effective as an inexpensive indoor experimental method for reproducing FF.