Atomic Stars!!

Atomic Stars!!

January 8, 2017

For the third year in a row, there have been widespread, record-breaking warm temperatures. All winter here, January 8^th was the only true winter day, up to that time. There had been some very cold days with no snow. There had been a day or two with snow flurries and a dusting.

January 8^th had been the only day that looked and felt like a real, traditional Indiana winter, with snow (a little more than a dusting), very cold temperatures, and ice.

The effects of climate change could be something else to study at Cottonwood Pond but, so far, the pond had not existed long enough.

I knew I had to get down there and check it out while it actually had snow and ice. Who knew if we'd have another wintry day?

That day, my observations turned out to be about three main things: channels, crystals and tracks (wow, that sounds cosmic ...) all made clear by winter conditions.

During previous (unseasonably warm) days, rain had been sculpting the landscape in and around Cottonwood Pond. Then water and ground froze, and snow fell. Designs carved by water became accentuated. The story of water flow and earthly changes was frozen in time.

The Creek was thick with ice. Sun glinted off the surface, revealing the texture of frozen ripples.

A design of alternating white and clear patches told the story of where water was calm or agitated.

Designs show where water was pushing against a small "dam" in the Creek

Creek water was very "ripply" here as it froze

When I looked closely into a clear section, I saw slight movement among the edges of leaves in the bottom, telling me that water in the lowest layer was still flowing, albeit rather slowly.

And, I found lovely crystal formations scattered across the surface of clear spots, as if someone had tossed handfuls of stars across the Creek – those “atomic” stars so prevalent in late 1950's and early 1960's design.

There's a strange little anomaly in this photo: a row of dark lines across the upper left corner. They seem to be long, narrow holes in the ice - maybe.

Atomic star crystals lined the Creek's edge …

… and fancifully decorated plain old sticks.

Approaching Cottonwood Pond, I saw that its frozen surface was also decorated.

More atomic star crystals!

Over the deepest part of the pond, atomic stars yielded to scattered, snowy splotches.

Perhaps the more shallow areas had frozen more quickly, creating atomic star crystals where wet snow had fallen onto the ice. It would have been fun to be there as the snow fell and water froze, watching these formations take shape, though I wondered how long it took them to form.

Are these spots formed by animal feet stepping across the snow on the pond, or were they extra cold spots bent on forming longer crystals?

Snow remained thickly on some areas of the pond, while other spaces were relatively clear, with scattered atomic star crystals. Since I knew this area from past study, it was easy to see that the relatively clear areas were also the spaces with the most water movement. I could see where water had entered the pond primarily under the west end of the Inlet, had run alongside the Very Rotten Log, and then spread throughout the bulk of the pond. Some had pushed toward the east corner, then curved toward the center.

Water had then pushed toward the shallow north corner, where it was greatly slowed down. The cold, dense water had lost momentum in that corner.

As seen from the north

As seen from the south

On the northeast edge, water had tried to push toward the Cove, but lost momentum.

Designs show where water currents had pushed along the bottom edge of the Root Ball, toward the Cove

Snow, ice and crystals showed me more about the depths and dynamics of this body of water. I could apply this knowledge later in the year to what forms of life I might find in different sections of the pond.

Since water lost momentum at the north corner, there was no evidence of it having flowed over the Isthmus. But, deeper patches of snow indicated low spots where water sometimes settles or runs, on either side of the Isthmus and at “little pond.”

Speaking of “little pond,” the area of most water action there (near the Trunk) was also relatively clear and crystal-covered, while the rest of “little pond” had been relatively calm.

This made it obvious where water flowed in from the other side of the Trunk. My thought was that this generally happened when the main pond filled so much that water flowed through the Cove, pushing under the Trunk into “little pond.”

Winter conditions also accentuated the path of the Seep from the main pond corner to Creek …

… and revealed the path of water from Temporary Creek to Swampy Spot and on the the Inlet and main pond.

Temporary Creek #1

The Swampy Spot

Channel from Swampy Spot to Inlet

The Inlet

South end of main pond, on the other side of the Inlet

(animal tracks on top of the Barkless Log)

The snow also revealed activity that happened at Cottonwood Pond sometime previous to my visit. Animals had been crossing logs, crossing the pond and eating seeds.

Crossing the Very Rotten Log over the Creek

Oops - slipped!

Crystal-filled tracks of an animal who had been dining on Dropseed seeds that dropped onto the snow, next to Cottonwood Pond

I saw prints of squirrels, birds, mice and others (including some kitty paw prints.)

Bird wing print

The Cottonwood Trunk ...

... and a closer look ...

I hope there will be more true winter days of snow and ice, telling more stories, before the winter ends. It is important to local wildlife, humans, and the environment we all share.

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Bonus Photos: Snow Designs:

Stubs of an Asian Bush Honeysuckle I cut down last fall. Stems of this plant have hollow centers.

Desiccated mushroom on the Cottonwood Trunk

A jaunty snow cap on the Ball in the Swampy Spot (notice animal tracks there and below) ... 

... and on "The Gremlin" (a funny-shaped chunk of old tree that resides on the slope above Cottonwood Pond)

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