Life in Nova Scotia
I tasted the ice that had formed at the water’s edge on a small beach, as I said I would. As predicted, it was indeed fresh, not salty. A good survival tip, should you ever find yourself shipwrecked on a desert island in winter.
Canada’s Derek Hatfield hit an oilslick at 16 knots today, and it washed over the boat making a big mess. Now he has to clean up while still trying to make up for time he lost at the beginning of the race due to equipment problems. At least he’s not dead last anymore in the Vendée Globe round the world solo yacht race. But imagine the hazard of a slimy, slippery deck when you’re already pushing the limits.
We should all be wildly cheering on Derek Hatfield in his Algimouss Spirit of Canada, 60 foot speed machine, who is sailing alone around the world in the Vendée Globe race. He’s been running a bootstrap operation without the advantages of staff and money that a major sponsor would provide, but with the support of thousands of Canadians. Why isn’t there a daily update in a box on the front page of the Halifax Herald? Check out his site at SpiritOfCanada.net and the Vendée Globe site.
People are sometimes surprised to learn that ocean water can freeze (but think about it: we’re worried about the melting polar ice cap). Two winters out of the last four, we’ve been able to skate on Mahone Bay after a really cold snap. Salt water freezes at a lower temperature than fresh water, and the saltier it is, the colder it has to be to freeze. I’ve found that it has a softer quality than freshwater ice, perhaps because of the impurities it would contain. But I’m sure it’s just as unforgiving if you crack your head on it!
I’ve always found crystals fascinating. In my days as a lab chemist I enjoyed doing crystallization, which is done in the lab as a means of purifying a substance. That’s because a crystal is formed when the molecules of a substance lock together in a close pattern. There isn’t much room for anything else in there, between the molecules. Separate the crystals from the rest, and you’ve got a pretty pure product.
Of course, these ice crystals I saw this morning melted during the day.
Watching the changes in the ice on the bay is one of the joys of living in Nova Scotia in winter.
If you want to read more about the science of seawater freezing, see the Water Encyclopedia.
I wonder what the ducks are finding to eat in the flooded marsh? At high tide, a dozen of them will be gathered around one spot, head and neck down in the ooze. Is it some small semi terrestrial creature that gets flooded out when the tide is so high? Does anyone know?
On my walk this morning, I saw no fewer than three species of duck in the little inlet taking shelter from the gale force southeasterlies: the American Black Ducks that breed prolifically around here, Mallards, and a pair of cute little Buffleheads.