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Needle ice

Needle ice is a phenomenon that occurs when the temperature of the soil is above 0°C and the surface temperature of the soil is below 0°C. The subterranean moisture is brought to the surface via capillary action.

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The ice needles are typically a few centimetres long. While growing, they may lift or push away small soil particles. On sloped surfaces, needle ice may be a factor contributing to soil creep.^[1]^[2]

Alternate names for needle ice are "frost column", "kammeis" (the German term), or "pipkrake" (from Swedish pipa (tube) and krake (weak, fine), coined in 1907 by Henrik Hesselman (1874 – 1943)^[3]).

References

^ Isbell, D.: Needle Ice on Mt. Osceola, EPOD of July 10, 2005. URL last accessed 2007-12-07.
^ Pidwirny, M.: Fundamentals of Physical Geography, 2nd ed., section 10(ag), Periglacial Processes and Landforms. URL last accessed 2007-12-07.
^ Lawler, D. M.: "Some observations on needle ice", Weather, vol. 44, pp. 406–409; 1989.