... and giveth again. Earlier this week, with warming breezes, our shore was an iced-over wonderland of bridges, cenotes, and fiords. By yesterday, it was all gone. We were back to gray-green open water. But the west wind was blowing, knocking out power here and there across the region. This morning I found the wind… Continue reading The wind giveth and the wind taketh away
4 A.M. The moon won't rise till 6:01 and the first pre-dawn glimmer won't appear till 5:47. And yet, above the faint orange streaks of Canada light pollution, the horizon glows. I guess it's nightglow (or airglow), an atmospheric phenomenon. The physics of it escape me, but I love its bright mystery. I saw it… Continue reading Lake Ontario nightglow
7:29 a.m. 0°F. Dawn brings the answer: moving water plays havoc with frozen water. Our once-solid ice bank has been carved out by the night's wave action. I'm enjoying a fine cup of coffee.
9° F. (-12° C.) As the wind picks up, the waves are crashing over our shelf of ice. I keep watching to see whether the ice shelf will be built up or broken down by the wave action. Meantime, it's mesmerizing, especially with a little sunshine and a few fluffs of cloud. I did dig… Continue reading Cold but not polar
A wall of ice is building up along the lake's edge as the temperatures remain cold and wave action tosses chunks up onto the surface. Depending on structures below (?) and possibly drainage from the shore, little fiords open up for added interest. Arctic cool. The sun is shining, so I had to get a… Continue reading Strange forms on the edge
7:30 a.m. looking west We had some rain and a slight thaw -- enough to dig out a better path between porch and car before it all turns into icy hardpack. I don't like Jim trekking out to the newspaper box over a hazardous surface, so I get my boots and crampons on. While I'm… Continue reading Mini-thaw is over
7:16 a.m. At first light this morning, I could see that our ice shelf was re-forming, congealing in the 3-degree air and strong winds out of the northwest. I had to go outside to get the paper (through the path I luckily dug yesterday), so took another picture from the porch. Now -- hot coffee… Continue reading Arctic blast continues
