Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 03/30/2009 - 14:41
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Early Spring Plankton and Benthos

Hi im Selena from J.C.Parks Elementry i have a question for mrs.Wheeler how cold is the artic water?

Mon, 03/30/2009 - 17:00

Deanna Wheeler

Selena- great question. The water below the ice was around -2 C. Now we are out of the ice and the temperature is a little warmer by a degree. Because there is salt in the sea water, the temperature needs to be a little colder for ice to form. Ice is formed from the water in the sea water-- not the salt. Salt water does get trapped in between the ice crystals. As the ice continues to grow, the water in the trapped sea water continues to freeze. What remains tends to want to fall out back into the seawater. There is so much more to ice than I ever knew... and so much more to learn. -Ms. Wheeler