Ice on puddles when low temperate is above zero?
February 9, 2015 4:09 PM Subscribe
I've been seeing ice on the tops of puddles when the low temperature for the day is forecast to be low (2 or 3 degrees) but not freezing. Why is that?
I had assumed that this was just because a forecast is a prediction, and in reality the temperature went below freezing. However, it seems to happen a lot, and, come to think of it, soil is usually cooler than the air above it1, and I've been to ice caves, where there are icicles despite the above-ground temperature being in the teens, so is it actually that the water is freezing because the ground is actually colder than the low air temperature for the day?
1: But maybe soil isn't actually cooler than air, but just seems that way due to having a higher thermal coefficient?
I had assumed that this was just because a forecast is a prediction, and in reality the temperature went below freezing. However, it seems to happen a lot, and, come to think of it, soil is usually cooler than the air above it1, and I've been to ice caves, where there are icicles despite the above-ground temperature being in the teens, so is it actually that the water is freezing because the ground is actually colder than the low air temperature for the day?
1: But maybe soil isn't actually cooler than air, but just seems that way due to having a higher thermal coefficient?
This may help a little (at least in terms of understanding how temperatures are measured).
It's my understanding that surface temperature tends to fall below air temperature during the night, then rise above air temperature during the day, and that this is mostly a result of the ground's greater thermal mass vs. that of the air, which results in the ground heating up more slowly than the air above it.
posted by pipeski at 4:23 PM on February 9, 2015
It's my understanding that surface temperature tends to fall below air temperature during the night, then rise above air temperature during the day, and that this is mostly a result of the ground's greater thermal mass vs. that of the air, which results in the ground heating up more slowly than the air above it.
posted by pipeski at 4:23 PM on February 9, 2015
The clear black sky is very cold. You won't see this happen when it's cloudy.
posted by ryanrs at 4:24 PM on February 9, 2015
posted by ryanrs at 4:24 PM on February 9, 2015
Best answer: If the air is dry, in addition to radiative cooling, puddles will also be affected by evaporative cooling.
In addition to these other factors, it's also entirely possible that your particular area is consistently cooler than wherever it is your forecast is being predicted for. You can test this by measuring the air temperature in the shade for a while and seeing how your highs or lows compare to the predictions.
posted by aubilenon at 4:34 PM on February 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
In addition to these other factors, it's also entirely possible that your particular area is consistently cooler than wherever it is your forecast is being predicted for. You can test this by measuring the air temperature in the shade for a while and seeing how your highs or lows compare to the predictions.
posted by aubilenon at 4:34 PM on February 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Air temperature is not the same everywhere. You can get local differences for example due to shade. Where they're measuring is also not right where you are, so where you are could be a couple degrees colder. Those are a couple reasons the actual temperature may be colder. However there are many other factors.
Solids (the ground) heat up and cool down more slowly than gases (the air). There is the latent heat of melting/freezing, which basically means it takes more energy to change phases from solid to liquid, so ice takes longer to heat up enough to melt, and an air temperature temporarily above freezing may not be enough to melt ice.
posted by DoubleLune at 4:58 PM on February 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Solids (the ground) heat up and cool down more slowly than gases (the air). There is the latent heat of melting/freezing, which basically means it takes more energy to change phases from solid to liquid, so ice takes longer to heat up enough to melt, and an air temperature temporarily above freezing may not be enough to melt ice.
posted by DoubleLune at 4:58 PM on February 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
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posted by doctord at 4:20 PM on February 9, 2015 [3 favorites]