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Iceberg underwater real1/17/2024 Michigan State University Extension encourages the use of lakes during winter for recreational enjoyment. Ice also provides Michigan residents with an opportunity to experience our lakes from a different perspectives while ice fishing, skating or just walking. Ice and water are vital to Michigan’s ability to maintain a variety of aquatic plant and animal life. Because it takes a lot of energy to change the state of water, this gradual process helps prevent a sudden increase in temperature that could be harmful to life. As ice melts in spring, it absorbs heat from the environment to slowly change its state back to liquid. Ice helps protect most aquatic plants and animals throughout the winter months. Michigan lakes and ponds are home to a variety of plants and animals. When lakes and ponds freeze, the ice on the surface forms pockets of air and helps insulate the water so it doesn’t freeze solid. It stays on the top and ice slowly gets thicker, freezing our lakes and ponds from the top down. Ice floats when water freezes on the top. If ice did not float, life underwater would be impossible! What would happen to the fish, snails, turtles and other animals that live in the lakes and ponds? Unlike plants, animals can move so they would move as far as possible or be trapped and frozen when the ice sank. What would happen to the plants on the bottom of the lake or pond? The exposed parts of the plants would be crushed and frozen by the ice when it sank. Now, push the foam or ice to the bottom of the jar and hold it there. They would freeze from the bottom up as ice formed on the top and sank to the bottom. Put a piece of ice or foam on top and ask youth, “What might happen if ice did not float, but sank to the bottom?” Think about how our lakes and ponds would freeze. Use a clear empty container, like a peanut butter jar, as a model and put in some sand, a toy fish and a plant. But have you ever wondered about the impact of ice floating? What would happen if ice sank? You can help youth understand the significance of ice floating. In the accompanying article, “ Exploring our world: Why does ice float?,” we explored the science behind why ice floats.
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