why frozen lakes seem to unfreeze from the bottom up. I know the top freezes over first because of density but why does the I’ve seem to simply get thinner while it unfreezes rather than having a pool of water over the ice. Go easy if it sounds like a dumb question.

Question

why frozen lakes seem to unfreeze from the bottom up. I know the top freezes over first because of density but why does the I’ve seem to simply get thinner while it unfreezes rather than having a pool of water over the ice. Go easy if it sounds like a dumb question.

In: 9

Answer 1

It’s based on the principle that heat rises – so yes it does melt from the top first and ice remains on the lower parts, but the remaining ice eventually floats up and melts into itself again to form the lake-face – this continues until there is nothing left but water.