Sorry if this has been discussed, but I had a couple questions/thoughts.
This is only my second ice watching season, so it's impossible for me to compare to others years. However, I have seen others comment on the poor state of the ice, wether it be fractured, or slushy, or rotten. My question is, if the ice is becoming more "porous", wouldn't that make it more difficult for melt ponds to form?
My second is more of a thought. Where I live, lakes and ponds freeze for 3-5 months of the year, with thickness that can reach 1 meter in the more northern areas. I have done a fair amount of ice fishing, and with lakes all around me, have watched "ice out" on many occasions. I'm not sure how much of what I observe when freshwater lakes melt can be applied to arctic ice melt, but one thing sucks in my mind. It has to do with wind, and it's effects on the difference between temperature at 2 meters and the air that "hugs" the ice. When standing on the ice on a relatively warm day without any wind, your feet can get quite cold because of the cold that seems to suck right on the ice. Yet, on cooler days with wind, your feet wouldn't feel as cold because that frigid cold that seems to radiate to your feet is scoured away.
Hope I worded that right.
My point is that wind is extremely important in the melting process of our lakes. Coupled with elevated dew points, the wind can really eat ice, even at temps just above freezing. Also, one would be surprise how much "grip" smooth ice can get on the wind. I have seen light, but persistent breezes pushing the ice around surprisingly easily once it begins to melt away from shore.
Like I sad though, perhaps this has no qualitative value in regards to arctic ice.
Edit: oops thought I was in the drift, deformation, and fracture thread. It's probably a stupid question any way.