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A hair ice observation in Devon
Author(s) -
Robbins James,
Gill Philip
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
weather
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.467
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1477-8696
pISSN - 0043-1656
DOI - 10.1002/wea.3254
Subject(s) - woodland , ice sheet , geology , biology , ecology , geomorphology
Hair ice is a rare type of ice formation that resembles thin strands of hair and is found only on rotting wood in specific weather conditions and locations. The peculiar formation of the ice is dependent on the presence of a particular fungus on dead wood from broadleaf woodland, which helps to shape the ice hairs and prevents them from recrystallising. This article details a recent sighting of hair ice at Buckland Abbey in Devon and describes this interesting and unusual phenomenon, as well as outlining the formation process.