Munising Harbor was covered in clear ice earlier in the month and Tom Cook captured some photos there, including several shots of interesting ice formations that seem to be frozen under the ice. I have never seen anything like this and it kind of reminded me of the old Jetsons Cartoon space age city scenes.

I’m no scientist, but doing a Google Search I found some information that said these could be methane bubbles that form when dead organic materials like plants and animals fall into the water and sink to the bottom. The bacteria that lives down there feeds on them and after they dissolve, methane gas comes out, rises to the surface and forms bubbles, which in the summer months just pop, but in the winter months the bubbles freeze under the ice creating formations like those in Tom’s photos. Quite interesting and if you’d like to learn more, just Google “Methane Bubbles in Ice”.

Our video today is courtesy of Shawn Malone over at Lake Superior Photo. Shawn had this to say about her video: “A winter storm accompanied by strong ENE winds turned Lake Superior's battering waves into a sea of huge ice pancakes. By evening's last light, the mighty lake was silenced into a frozen slumber of ice all the way to the horizon. This video captures the last few waves fighting to break the tranquilizing icy cold and thickening pancake ice that gradually overpowered the energy of the waves.”

Hi
At least the ice in the water isn't doing any
damage, right? Down here in Jackson, MI we had an
ice storm that caused a lot of downed tree limbs. My
mom and I lost power last Wednesday night and just
got it back yesterday at around 2PM.

Those are weird and interesting ice formations.

Am very sorry to hear you were without power Kathyrn Laughlin (Kathyl). Just like UC, that's a long time without power! How did you manage to stay warm?

The frozen gas bubbles do look like the Jetson's house, Mary! Beautiful & amazing!

The Jetsons indeed. Very cool. I wouldn't
walk out on the ice but that's me. Again,
I'm glad we have people who do these things
for us.
Kathryn, I'm happy you guys are safe and
sound and now warm.

Nice pix and a good way to break the ice if you’re on a date.


The video has chill written all over it.

JBuck, we found friends who had a generator and
stayed with them, bless their hearts. I read there
were 700,000 households that lost power.

My 1st reaction to the top photo is "Air Guitar on Ice".

Power outage in the very cold is a terrible experience. We didn't have nearly enough blankets the last time it happened here.

That is the most interesting ice I've ever seen.

And with an added plus of pancake waves.