21 March, 2000

Lake Ice (from a different angle)

I arrived in Fairbanks at about three this afternoon, having

left Connecticut at 7:30 yesterday morning. I was definitely

glad to step off the plane, especially since my Alaskan Airlines flight from Seattle had been delayed due to mechanical problems. Yikes!

It was a wonderful first day of spring here with the temperatures soaring to an almost balmy 2 degrees C. (That's 47 degrees higher

than it was during my last trek in January!)

We discussed the possible implications for our lake ice research, but decided to do a different kind of "field work" today. Yes,

I'm referring to the much-anticipated tour of the ice sculptures! Each year during late February and early March, artists from

around the world parcticipate in an ice-sculpting competition

as part of the Fairbanks Ice Festival.

(Learn more at http://www.icealaska.com ) Despite some obvious melting, the sculptures still towered above us with beauty and elegance. Join me on a short photo excursion that will allow

you to see lake ice from a completely different perspective!

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The green light illuminating this tipped block of lake ice allows you to see the layer of white snow ice on the left (which was really on the surface of the lake.) ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

Just another view of the ice artists' favorite "raw material." This piece of lake ice has been frosted by crystals. ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

The lake ice is crystal clear, making it easy to see the stress fractures within it. ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

Just another glimpse of fractures within the ice. ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

A photo opportunity with one of the more modern designs. (I'm the one on the right!) ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

FIRST PRIZE!! ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

This closeup of the winning sculpture shows how clear the ice really is! ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

Some of the entries were simple, yet striking! ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

Another frozen masterpiece! ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

It's amazing that something so cold can express such warmth! ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!