If you search for West Danville, Vermont on Google Earth, you'll find yourself very near Joe's Pond. It's not the most beautiful pond in Vermont but it is the scene of the annual "ice out" contest. See http://www.joespond.com. Predictions are that more than 12,000 souls will pony up a buck by the April 1 cutoff to bet on when the ice goes out this year. Or, more accurately, when the cement block will fall through the ice , pulling the plug on the clock that sits on Homer Fitts' front porch, marking the official time the ice is out.
The ice is currently over 30 inches thick under heavy snow cover and with temperatures still hovering between 'teens at night and just above freezing in the daytime. Winter is still here in Central Vermont, despite the fact that we passed into "spring" a week ago.
Ice and water are both remarkable substances, of course, worthy of further study by any thermal geek. A tremendous amount of energy is required to melt the ice on Joe's Pond and that is being supplied both by the sun and the stored energy in the water below the ice. Fortunately, the sun continues to do it's part each year, even if we must contend with the "thermal lag" of phase change and heating materials. Ice out dates in the past have ranged from April 16 (1988) to May 6 (1999). This year? My bet will be on a date in early May! Then we can talk about when will the Pond be warm enough for fishing and swimming.
Thermally Yours,
John
ASNT NDT Level III #48166
The Snell Group
www.thesnellgroup.com
www.thermalsolutions.org
800-636-9820