Ralph wrote: >>>>>My entire original posting should be read as supporting the NYCKayaker's caution regarding current water temperatures, bearing in mind that some open and "paddlable" water is actually already near or at the freezing point, NOT still at 40 deg F!!!<<<<<<<<< I think that 40 degrees F and freezing of a waters surface are very close together in nature. If I understand this correctly (and it may be much more complicated than this) the surface of water can't freeze when in contact with freezing air until it reaches 40 degrees F. because water is at its greatest density at 40 degrees. Below that temperature the water expands again until freezing (where it expands a lot more). Therefore, the warmer (less dense water) at the surface no longer floats to the top once the surface temperature reaches 40 degrees. The water "turns" and the colder water, lower than 40 degrees F., that had been below floats to the surface as the denser 40 degree water sank below it. Water colder than 40 degrees that had been lower down now rises to the surface and the icy air can bring down the temperature to freezing at the surface rather quickly since warmer water is sinking rather than rising below 40 degrees F. Thank you Ralph for both your recent posts. Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Dec 11 2002 - 01:31:53 PST
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