Atomic
Stars!!
January
8, 2017
For
the third year in a row, there have been widespread, record-breaking
warm temperatures. All winter here, January 8th
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
8th 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.
**************************************************************************************
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)
***************************************************************
