4 ms·

Why isn't the lake frozen solid?

sfphotoarts 16y ago
I would assume because its very well insulated from above and warmed by the earth's core from below, but I'm not a geologist.
- NickPollard 16y ago
  It's also probably due to being under high pressure; the melting point of a substance is dependent on the pressure it is under.
  - ChuckMcM 16y ago
    Except its water which kinda defines incompressible. Answer is thermal energy from tectonic processes. Cite: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V61-47BX9V7-1&_user=10&_coverDate=01%2F10%2F2003&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=66844a166df35541b0ce95101bf7e720&searchtype=a http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi...
    - billswift 16y ago
      It doesn't matter how compressible it is, its temperature still rises from pressure. That is why ice is so slippery, pressure (from a tire, foot, or ice skate) melts a thin layer of water on the surface which acts as a lubricant (which is also why ice stops being slippery when its temperature gets low enough that normal pressures can't raise it enough to melt).
      - mchouza 16y ago
        It's more complex than that: http://lptms.u-psud.fr/membres/trizac/Ens/L3FIP/Ice.pdf http://lptms.u-psud.fr/membres/trizac/Ens/L3FIP/Ice.pdf Even an extremely high pressure cannot melt ice at -25 °C, but skiing is still possible at that temperature.
        yread 16y ago
        great article! If you have the time read it.
- kragen 16y ago
  You're correct, except that the heat doesn't come from the earth's core, but from its mantle and mostly its crust.
vinutheraj 16y ago
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Vostok http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Vostok - The average water temperature is calculated to be around −3 °C (27 °F); it remains liquid below the normal freezing point because of high pressure from the weight of the ice above it. Geothermal heat from the Earth's interior warms the bottom of the lake. The ice sheet itself insulates the lake from cold temperatures on the surface.

I would assume because its very well insulated from above and warmed by the earth's core from below, but I'm not a geologist.

NickPollard 16y ago
It's also probably due to being under high pressure; the melting point of a substance is dependent on the pressure it is under.
- ChuckMcM 16y ago
  Except its water which kinda defines incompressible. Answer is thermal energy from tectonic processes. Cite: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V61-47BX9V7-1&_user=10&_coverDate=01%2F10%2F2003&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=66844a166df35541b0ce95101bf7e720&searchtype=a http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi...
  - billswift 16y ago
    It doesn't matter how compressible it is, its temperature still rises from pressure. That is why ice is so slippery, pressure (from a tire, foot, or ice skate) melts a thin layer of water on the surface which acts as a lubricant (which is also why ice stops being slippery when its temperature gets low enough that normal pressures can't raise it enough to melt).
    - mchouza 16y ago
      It's more complex than that: http://lptms.u-psud.fr/membres/trizac/Ens/L3FIP/Ice.pdf http://lptms.u-psud.fr/membres/trizac/Ens/L3FIP/Ice.pdf Even an extremely high pressure cannot melt ice at -25 °C, but skiing is still possible at that temperature.
      - yread 16y ago
        great article! If you have the time read it.
kragen 16y ago
You're correct, except that the heat doesn't come from the earth's core, but from its mantle and mostly its crust.

vinutheraj 16y ago

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Vostok http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Vostok - The average water temperature is calculated to be around −3 °C (27 °F); it remains liquid below the normal freezing point because of high pressure from the weight of the ice above it. Geothermal heat from the Earth's interior warms the bottom of the lake. The ice sheet itself insulates the lake from cold temperatures on the surface.