Category Archives: Ice

Foreground colour on a gloomy day

In the spring, everything turns green, the weather becomes pleasant and the park gets crowded. Today is gloomy, slushy and mild with rain. In spite of that, I was blown away by the amount of colour still to be seen. Better still, I had the place to myself.

It's probably an invasive species of grass but it does look nice by the river.

It’s probably an invasive species of grass but it does look nice by the river.

Because of the mild weather, a mist was hiding much of the horizon.

Looking south towards the weir.

Looking south towards the weir.

I guess it’s an accentuation of the fainter and bluer shift that distance provides; no matter, it’s a great look, especially when the apartments at Eglinton are less prominent.

In the woods.

In the woods, colour meets texture.

Finally, the handiwork of the tree pruning company that spent long days in the park recently searching high and low for things to cut. The red of the cuts contrasts nicely with the green of the lichen. I had to check the images on the camera at the time and yes, the colours really were like that today!

Colour by Davey.

Colour by Davey and nature.

Ice builds

Ice doesn’t appear on the Humber in sheets, it forms in chunks, especially where the water moves quickly. Near the bridge the formation process can be seen as chunks moving downriver are trapped by an ice dam. The chunks flow under at first and this seems to raise the level of the river as the water’s progress is blocked. It’s probably a good thing for aquatic wildlife too, ensuring a good layer of insulation as water flows underneath.

Ice chunks gather together and form a frozen surface.

Ice chunks gathering together to form a frozen surface.

Further down by the wild area and especially towards the weir, the ice is already solid. You’d never be able to skate on it but it’s quite thick after some cold days and nights.

The river level is higher than normal as a result of ice damming.

The river level is higher than normal as a result of ice damming.

Down by the dam, a family felt the ice was safe enough to explore the island.

Down by the dam, a family felt the ice was safe enough to cross from Denison Park to the island.

Brave people test the ice.

Brave people test the ice.

We’re expecting a thaw mid-week along with lots of rain. Much of the ice will end up in huge piles by the shore.

 

Bitter cold.

Powder snow balances on last year's growth.

With no wind, powder snow balances precariously on last year’s growth.

It was -21°C this morning. Luckily there was no wind but the park was empty of wildlife.

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Ice is thickening rapidly by the weir and seems to have formed in record time. Apparently this week, it’s colder over the middle of the continent than over the North Pole.

What a difference a thaw makes.

It’s amazing what a couple of 14°C days can do to snow.

DSC00473The river has swept away all of the ice and is once more clear.

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Reverse view, looking down the Humber towards the weir.

Patterns in the ice.

Patterns in the ice.

There are some interesting ice formations where water is freezing again. As the water level drops, small strips are broken off and are forming a series of lines.