As I write this, it’s late December with temperatures in the 70s in the Eastern US, and 50s in California where I live.  Still….it’s a good time of year to be contemplating cold, winter, the beauty and the multiplicity of forms nature uses to present us with snow and ice.

Folded snow

Folded snow

weather, frost on fenceweather, frosted pine weather, frosted spider web via johnweather, after ice stormweather, after freezing rain in China

Peričnik waterfall in winter by Ana Pogačar, in slovenia

Peričnik waterfall in winter by Ana Pogačar, in Slovenia

 White Rainbows form in fog, rather than rain. The condensation reflects little light, and as a result, the rainbow is made up of very weak colors – like white – rather than the vibrant colors of a traditional rainbow.

White Rainbows form in fog, rather than rain. The condensation reflects little light, and as a result, the rainbow is made up of very weak colors – like white – rather than the vibrant colors of a traditional rainbow.

weather, frozen tree

Frozen pond.

Frozen pond.

Abraham Lake in Alberta just outside of Banff National Park. These bubbles are caused by methane gas. Image by Chip Phillips

Abraham Lake in Alberta just outside of Banff National Park. These bubbles are caused by methane gas. Image by Chip Phillips

Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park by Chip Phillips.

Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park by Chip Phillips.

Frozen pond, Jasper, Alberta, Canada by Chip Phillips

Frozen pond, Jasper, Alberta, Canada by Chip Phillips

The summit of Mount Spokane by Chip Phillips.

The summit of Mount Spokane by Chip Phillips.

Mount Erebus, an active volcano in Antarctica, has a permanent lake of molten lava just below its 13,000 ft. summit. On the flanks of Erebus are steam vents that have formed towers of frozen geothermal vapor. Image by George Steinmetz

Mount Erebus, an active volcano in Antarctica, has a permanent lake of molten lava just below its 13,000 ft. summit. On the flanks of Erebus are steam vents that have formed towers of frozen geothermal vapor. Image by George Steinmetz

A frost flower is created on autumn or early winter mornings when ice in extremely thin layers is pushed out from the stems of plants or occasionally wood. This extrusion creates patterns which curl and fold into gorgeous frozen arrangements giving this phenomenon both its name and its appearance.

Image by crestedcrazy on flickr

Image by crestedcrazy on flickr

Image by Cotinis on flickr

Image by Cotinis on flickr

aa frost flower 3 via Nancy

By markinspex on flickr

By markinspex on flickr

Image from Wikimedia

Image from Wikimedia

Frost flowers in the arctic.

Frost flowers in the arctic.

weather, ice blossoms

By Chris Fisher on flickr

By Chris Fisher on flickr

By Martin Angus

By Martin Angus

ce cave at the Vatnajokull Glacier in Iceland by Shane Wheel via National Geographic

Ice cave at the Vatnajokull Glacier in Iceland by Shane Wheel via National Geographic

Located in the wilderness in the south of the Russian region of Siberia, Lake Baikal holds two simultaneous world record for the deepest freshwater lake and the largest lake on the planet. Its long winter freeze is captured in these stunning photos.

weather, ice via john Baikal Ice Emerald

By Alexey Trofimov

aa lake b 3aa Baikal-9448aa lake b 4aa, lake baa lake b 2

Ice bubbles

Ice bubbles

aa, lakeaa lake b 5weather, frozen berries

Iceburgs

Icebergs

nature, icebergs 3nature, icebergs 2, mernature, icebergs, 5

A snow roller is a rare meteorological phenomenon in which large snowballs are formed naturally as chunks of snow are blown along the ground by wind, picking up material along the way, in much the same way that the large snowballs used in snowmen are made.

A snow roller is a rare meteorological phenomenon in which large snowballs are formed naturally as chunks of snow are blown along the ground by wind, picking up material along the way, in much the same way that the large snowballs used in snowmen are made.

For more on snow and ice, go here.  For icebergs go here.

Thanks to John, Nancy, Merry  and to Kuriositas for info about frost flowers and to Chip Phillips for many breathtaking images.

 

 

23 thoughts on “Snow and Ice, 2

  1. I grew up in snow country and never have I seen some of these formations. Absolutely fascinating, absolutely!

  2. Simply, GOD BLESS YOU DUSKY, for the wonders of the Creator you are collecting and sharing.
    May you have a wonderful, healthy, happy, peaceful New Year together with your loved ones.
    Sincerely and gratefully yours,
    Glori

  3. I was cold when I opened-now I feel silly! Thank you for sharing the beauty of nature.

  4. I always enjoy your postings. I live in snow country ( – 29 Celsius ) this morning and have never seen anything like these.
    Wishing you a Happy New Year and many more breathtaking photos.

  5. Positive delight to see this way for some one such as me who
    has spent 8o plus years in the sub tropics avoiding the ‘cold’
    like the plague. Super photo’s – thanks

  6. Just wonderful.. As we are having a heat wave.
    It makes me feel cool just looking at these …Thank You .

  7. What a treat to see the snow and ice (which I do not love, in real life) looking so beautiful. Happy New to you, Dusky…you bring so much pleasure to all of us. Thank you!

  8. Beautiful as always, thanks for sharing, Happy New Year, keep those photos coming. Some wonderful photographers in the world.

  9. Dear Folks at Dusky Wondersite,
    Greetings for a Happy New Year…..
    I have not seen snow / ice in real life as yet…..these pictures in away made my dream come true, without feeling the COLD!!
    Thank you or ‘Dhanyavaad’, as we say in Hindi…..
    Warmly, francis.
    =====

  10. God’s work of art and only He can do this. Thank you for sharing these gorgeous pictures of nature & beauty. I will share them with all my email friends. God Bless!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *