Star patterns on lake ice

Victor C. Tsai and J. S. Wettlaufer
Phys. Rev. E 75, 066105 – Published 18 June 2007

Abstract

Star patterns, reminiscent of a wide range of diffusively controlled growth forms from snowflakes to Saffman-Taylor fingers, are ubiquitous features of ice-covered lakes. Despite the commonality and beauty of these “lake stars,” the underlying physical processes that produce them have not been explained in a coherent theoretical framework. Here we describe a simple mathematical model that captures the principal features of lake-star formation; radial fingers of (relatively warm) water-rich regions grow from a central source and evolve through a competition between thermal and porous media flow effects in a saturated snow layer covering the lake. The number of star arms emerges from a stability analysis of this competition and the qualitative features of this meter-scale natural phenomenon are captured in laboratory experiments.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 14 February 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.75.066105

©2007 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Victor C. Tsai1,* and J. S. Wettlaufer2,†

  • 1Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
  • 2Department of Geology & Geophysics and Department of Physics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8109, USA

  • *Electronic address: vtsai@fas.harvard.edu
  • Electronic address: john.wettlaufer@yale.edu

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 75, Iss. 6 — June 2007

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review E

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×