Permissible and safe thickness of ice when moving on it

How to walk on a frozen body of water

Safety measures on ice imply certain rules and recommendations for staying and moving on it. In addition to the danger of failure, on a slippery surface you can simply fall and injure yourself, break bones or hit your head. This is especially true for large older fishermen

How to walk on ice without falling? The following ice precautions will help prevent injury:

Use shoes with anti-slip soles or spikes. Do not make sudden movements, maintain balance and pay attention to every step. Do not shift weight abruptly

First, the leg is placed, then the weight is transferred to it, smoothly and measuredly. The knees are bent, the torso is relaxed, ready to fall. In case of a fall, it is important to group yourself correctly, fall on your side, backwards, or on your half-bent arms extended forward, using them to dampen your speed. It is important to control the position of your head to protect it from impact

Fall safety is practiced as a physical exercise.

The very process of being on a winter pond is a high-risk event. Usually all winter roads fulfill the requirements on an instinctive level. For beginners, it is useful to learn the rules of ice safety:

The established trails are the least dangerous areas, as it is clearly visible that many people have passed along them. Strength cannot be tested by jumping or kicking. This must be done with a stick, pole or pick. If you notice a crackling sound, fountains of water from cracks, sagging, a yellowish color or wet spots in the snow, you should go around this place (or crawl back if you have already gone too far). You should not move in a crowd or chaotically, close to each other

The best option is in single file at a distance of at least 5 meters. When moving on skis, the bindings must be unfastened so that they can be reset if they fall through. The backpack and all belongings are worn on one shoulder or with relaxed straps, to be able to quickly get rid of the load - an important condition for safe movement. It is strictly not recommended to go out into the pond without special life preservers or spikes with handles. These safety devices should be located on the chest so that they can be used quickly in an emergency.

During first ice or spring, it is better to go fishing in a special waterproof float suit. It will protect you from hypothermia and drowning if you fall through. If there is no float, then you need to wear at least a life jacket. Someone in the group has a 10-20 meter long rope with a crampon or a weight at the end. If you need to overcome a potentially dangerous area, do not do it alone - only with a second person, with a rope or pole for safety. Naturally, when moving in a group, such a place is overcome one by one. You cannot fish or walk near edges, gullies and holes, cracks, hummocks and dips.

Safe ice

What kind of ice can you go fishing on? Officially, the permissible ice thickness for a group of people to move on it must be at least 10 cm while fishing. This is depicted on safety posters. The minimum ice thickness for fishing is 3-5 cm, depending on the reservoir, at your own peril and risk

You need to walk on this very carefully, according to all the rules (more on this below). It is not recommended to go to depths greater than 1.5 meters and far from the shore

10 cm can support a person weighing 100 kg and allows the movement of a group of people.

Ice thickness table for safe movement:

At what temperature does ice form on a body of water?

The durable surface is usually transparent, with a bluish or greenish tint. Turbidity, bubbles, yellowness are signs of a fragile ice shell. A good layer freezes in calm frosty weather. The freezing layer can be covered with snow, which will stick together with water into a single white mass. Such a surface is fragile and fragile.

Safety on poor ice cover

Anglers are looking forward to the moment of first ice formation. The most desperate ones go out onto the ice as soon as it becomes available, neglecting safety requirements. The first ice is dangerous, first of all, due to its small thickness. The official rule of behavior on thin ice is one thing - do not go on it. If you find yourself in such conditions, you must strictly follow all safety and behavior recommendations.

It is impossible to determine the thickness of the ice by color based on the first ice - it is thin and transparent. If an ice pick breaks through with one blow, it is better not to go far from the shore, but to sit next to the coastal bushes. At depth, the ice strengthens later, so going out into the middle of the reservoir is dangerous. Safety on thin ice cover is the first priority of a fisherman who finds himself on a body of water in such conditions. Every second you need to be internally ready to go under water, and react confidently and quickly. The condition of the ice layer on different reservoirs may vary due to many factors - the strength of the current, wind, water composition, and the presence of springs. Therefore, good cover on that pond over there is not a reason to go out to the large reservoir, where waves were flowing just yesterday.

How to move on thin ice if it begins to crack and sag? First of all, stop and look around. If sagging occurs right before your eyes, you need to immediately lie down, as softly and smoothly as possible, without hitting the surface with weight. Then you need to crawl back in your footsteps. If everything is not so fatal, you just need to retrace your steps with smooth sliding steps, without lifting your feet. In general, it is better to stick to the beaten path and always walk on them. Potentially hazardous places:

The middle of a reservoir, great depths, channel flow.
Junction points of forward and reverse flows.
Mouths of rivers and streams.
Directly by the shore.
In the thickets of reeds.
Near objects frozen in water.
Sewage and waste disposal areas.
Narrow channels with currents, rapids between islands.
At edges and gullies.
Water areas with frequent changes in water level and shipping traffic. Such a place can play a cruel joke - the fisherman will simply be cut off from the exit by a passing vessel, torn off from the main body of ice on an ice floe and carried out to sea.
Swamps and bogs are the most dangerous places. The warm gas released can make the apparently normal and hard integument weak and thin.

Avoid first ice covered with snow - it may just be crust, and underneath it there may be a gulley. In a group you should not come close to each other or gather together. You need to move in single file, no closer than 5-7 meters from each other. Each person should have a special life preserver on a rope, attached conveniently to the chest for quick use. It is advisable to have a rope with a load so that you can quickly throw it to someone who has failed. You cannot drill many holes at once - such perforation will weaken the already unreliable surface.

Freeze-up does not occur on all rivers

If freeze-up is facilitated by calm frosty weather, then the ice becomes almost uniform in thickness and grows from the shores. And if a strong wind occurs during freeze-up, then in the open spaces of large rivers or lakes it can linger for a long time - strong waves break and carry away the fragile first ice, preventing it from growing and strengthening.

By the way, the wind can drive such ice to the leeward shore, where, in severe frost, fragile pieces of ice turn into a strong, thick edge, which fishermen will later choose - it is convenient for winter fishing.

As we said at the beginning of the article, the time when the river freezes has always been considered the beginning of winter. But these days in cities, due to the fact that warm wastewater from industrial enterprises is discharged into rivers, you may never know what ice cover is. After all, in cities, rivers either freeze very late or never freeze throughout the winter.

Along with ice formation on rivers, or rather in places where a fast current flows into a reach with a slow flow or where there is a reverse current behind the capes, the appearance of ice hummocks can also be observed. They are formed by accumulating ice. And sometimes (especially in the northern regions of the country) hummocks can reach a height of up to three meters.

Ways to move on ice

By ski

Some fishermen who go fishing by public transport or who have to leave their car on the shore move across the ice on skis. In such cases, the thickness of the ice should be at least 8 centimeters.

It should also be noted that skiing on clear ice is not very comfortable. It is better if there is not a large layer of snow on the ice.

On snowmobiles

This type of transport can be used to move on ice if its thickness is at least 15 centimeters. As a rule, a snowmobile is used when there is already a guaranteed thickness of ice

It is also very important for a snowmobile to have some layer of snow.

Legalized ice crossings

Such crossings exist in conditions where there are no corresponding roads connected to bridges. They help reduce, and quite significantly, the distances between settlements. Vehicles are also allowed on these crossings. The ice thickness is at least 30 centimeters.

Typically, such crossings are accepted by special state commissions, with the participation of representatives of local authorities and employees of the State Inspectorate for Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. They drill holes and measure the thickness of the ice. If the data allows organizing a crossing, then the existing authorities give permission for this.

Methods of transportation

In order not to drive a car on the ice, some fishermen leave it on the shore and then move on their own. Travel methods:

By ski
. When traveling on skis, it is enough for the thickness to be at least 8 centimeters. It is good if the surface is covered with a small layer of snow, since the skis slide too much on a clean surface. This method of transportation is often used by fishermen who come to fish by public transport.
On snowmobiles
. A snowmobile is a heavy vehicle and can only be used if its thickness is more than 15 centimeters. It is advisable to have a small layer of snow on the surface.
Ice crossings
. If you need to reduce the distance between two points, you can use legal ice crossings. The thickness in these places is more than 30 centimeters and you can easily move along them by car.

Safe indicators

Do not risk your life and do not go out on the first ice, the canvas is at the stage of formation, any rash action can cost you your life. Depending on its thickness, ice on reservoirs is usually divided into several categories:

the minimum thickness is about 7 centimeters.
On average, this thickness is enough to support the weight of a person. It is extremely undesirable to go out on such ice, but if you do find yourself on a body of water, start moving towards the shore without lifting your feet from the surface;
safe thickness – 10 centimeters or more
(minimum 15 centimeters for salt water reservoirs);
dangerous thickness is less than 5 centimeters.
If you get on such ice, you are more likely to fall under water.

It is worth remembering that even in mid-January the ice is not always dense enough to support a person’s weight. According to observations, if the temperature rises to 0 degrees for about 3 days, the ice becomes unsafe.

How to determine the thickness of ice by external signs

Before you start estimating the approximate thickness of the ice, first of all, analyze the weather in recent days. Correlate these readings also with the date. It is clear that at the stage of the onset of freeze-up, as well as during the thaw and early spring, the structure of the ice crust will be unreliable.

The blue ice cover is durable. White has half the strength. The gray and yellowish tint and porous structure indicate that the collapse occurs suddenly - even without a preliminary crack.

Then carefully inspect the body of water while standing on the shore. A durable and thick cover is characterized by smoothness and uniformity. Drifts and debris are a serious reason to doubt the quality of the ice cover.

The quality of ice is affected by the speed of water flow and wind. The stronger they are, the worse and more unevenly the water freezes. In addition, the rate of crystallization is much higher in fresh water than in salty sea water. Soft water hardens faster than hard water.

If in the place of proposed fishing or crossing of a reservoir there are freshly discovered trails, then, theoretically, the risks are less. However, when going down to the water, take a closer look: the presence of snowdrifts in the coastal zone may indicate instability of the ice crust - it is stronger in open spaces.

Theory and practice

The ice track is cleared of snow on both sides of the axis (at least 10 m) and marked with milestones (every 15-20 m). Since the traffic on the highway is one-way, the road with reverse traffic should be laid at least 100 m apart. The thickness of the ice is measured by punching holes 5 m apart (near the coast the distance is reduced to 3 m), the diameter of the holes is from 6 to 10 cm. The holes are located according to the principle of chess squares at a distance of 5 m from the axis in both directions. For safety, they are fenced with a snow embankment around the circumference and covered with wooden shields. Any “hanging” ice that occurs is broken down mechanically. Measurements are taken by the local hydrometeorological service every 5 days, and more often in case of thaws.

In addition to the weight of the equipment, adjustments are made for traffic intensity using the formula:

Htr = na P

It takes into account:

H – ice thickness;
n – traffic intensity coefficient (with a traffic volume of 500 vehicles per day, n is equal to 1, if 1 is 500, then 400 is 0.8, etc.);
a – load characteristic indicator (wheeled, tracked);
P – load mass, i.e.

The formula can be supplemented depending on local conditions.

As you can see, it is much easier to secure the movement of one person, but only if this person follows the rules. Ultimately, the table of permissible ice thickness (and load on it) when organizing the crossing of equipment will look like this:

Permissible load, t	Required ice cover thickness (cm), taking into account the average daily t for the past 3 days	Distance between cars, m
– 10 ° and below	– 5 °C	With a short-term thaw to 0 °
Tracked vehicles
4	18	20	28	10
6	22	24	31	15
10	28	31	39	20
16	36	40	50	25
20	40	44	56	30
30	49	54	68	35
40	57	63	80	40
50	63	70	88	55
60	70	77	98	70
Wheeled vehicles
3,5	22	24	31	18
6	29	32	40	20
8	34	37	48	22
10	38	42	53	25
15	46	50	64	30

Safety regulations

In addition to walking, they move around the reservoir on skis, snowmobiles and along specially equipped crossings by car. In these cases, the minimum layer of ice cover is set at 8, 15 and 30 cm, respectively. Winter fishing is carried out subject to the rules that protect anglers from unforeseen situations. The code of conduct prescribes:

step on the ice after first making sure of its strength;
move along a body of water on paths trampled by other people - they mean that the path is safe;
check the strength of the cover with a stick or pick if no traces of movement are observed;
return when you find water on the ice or hear a characteristic crack;
move quickly and calmly away from the cracks that have appeared with a sliding small step, without lifting your feet from the surface and not stopping until you reach a safe place;
bypass areas with a concentration of fishermen - additional weight will cause cracks to appear;
postpone going ice fishing if there is fog, rain or snowfall, and do not go out to the reservoir at night;
stay away from ice holes, ice holes and areas with rapid currents;
Eliminate checking ice strength by jumping or kicking.

If a situation arises when, when moving a considerable distance, the crust becomes weak, you should lie down, spread your legs wide and crawl from the weak point towards the shore. Once in the water, there is no need to panic: throw off things that are preventing you from getting out onto the ice, stay on the surface and loudly call for help, without stopping trying to leave the hole. A drowning person needs to be given a pole or a rope, crawl closer to the hole and help the drowning person. On ice, it is advisable to change the victim into dry clothes, give him a hot drink and call an ambulance.

Safety precautions when fishing on ice

When going winter fishing, you should adhere to some rules that can protect any angler from unforeseen situations. Here they are:

Before you step on the ice, you should determine its strength.
It is better to move along the ice along well-known paths: if a person has passed here before, then it is safe here.
If no traces of a person’s movement across a body of water are visible, then you can move forward only after checking the strength of the ice. It could be a stick, or even better if it was an ice pick.
If you find water on the ice or hear a characteristic crackling sound, you must immediately return back.
It is not advisable to approach areas where there are many fishermen. Excess weight can cause the ice to crack.
It is better not to go fishing in adverse weather conditions such as fog, rain or snowfall. It is also not recommended to go out on the ice at night.
You should not approach ice holes, ice holes and dangerous areas, especially those where there is a rapid current.
You should not engage in such frivolous activities as ice skating.
You should not check the strength of the ice by kicking or jumping.

When moving on ice, you should also take into account the additional weight. Typically, anglers carry significant personal weight due to layers and warm clothing, as well as additional weight associated with fishing equipment. Particular attention should be paid to the moments when it is decided to go onto the ice by car or other transport.

Time of ice formation in Russia

Most regions of our country are located in cold latitudes, where the winter period often lasts more than 3 months. At the same time, the first ice capable of supporting an adult appears in closed and flowing water bodies around the end of November.

Ice that can support the weight of a passenger car appears on the reservoir only in mid-January.

It is worth taking into account what weather conditions were like throughout this period. If the air temperature rose to 0 and stayed for about 3-4 days, the strength of the ice decreased by 25%.

In mid-January, specialized ice crossings across the reservoir begin to operate. Basically, in such areas, the thickness for safe passage is maintained until the beginning of spring, if short-term thaws did not occur during the winter period. It is advisable to cross a body of water at a ferry crossing, since specialists always monitor the thickness of the ice in a given place and block traffic if danger arises.

How to behave on ice

First of all, you need to make sure that the weather outside is suitable. Suitable for ice fishing. You should not go out on the ice in bad weather: snow, rain, fog, as well as night time - this is a reason to abandon the planned fishing.

It is equally important to choose the right place to descend onto the ice. It should be a comfortable, flat place

Otherwise, there is a risk of slipping and falling on the ice, breaking it.

Avoid dangerous areas and areas where the ice is potentially thinner. About. Where such places are located was discussed above. Also, you should not gather in one place with a large group and drill holes too close to each other. Perforated ice holds worse than solid ice.

Correct behavior on ice

But it is better to move on ice along established paths. If one person has passed here, then the ice will most likely support the next one. If there is no path, then you need to make your own path. Pre-checking suspicious areas with a stick. If you are not sure about the reliability of the ice in a certain place, it is better to walk around the area. Also avoid old fishing spots, holes and ice holes.

It is important to remember that a person with a large weight, and fishing equipment weighs a lot, is exposed to additional danger. If, while moving on ice, you hear a crash or see water on top of the ice, it is better to immediately leave the dangerous place and return to the shore

This should be done slowly, without sudden movements. It’s best to just lie down on the ice with your arms and legs spread wide and crawl

If, while moving on ice, you hear a crash or see water on top of the ice, it is better to immediately leave the dangerous place and return to the shore. This should be done slowly, without sudden movements. It’s best to just lie down on the ice, spread your arms and legs wide apart, and crawl around.

What are polynyas and lanes?

Most of the rivers in Russia can demonstrate what ice cover is, but sometimes on water covered with solid ice you can also see areas where it is completely absent. Such places are called “wormholes” or “mynas”. They form either where there is warm groundwater, or in places where a river flows out of a lake, receiving warmer lake water.

Sometimes such openings can be quite impressive. For example, on the Emtsa River, which is a tributary of the Onega, an area of 100 km does not freeze, despite the fact that the winter in those places is very severe.

Non-freezing areas are also formed in places where the river has a strong current or rapids and rapids. Most often, this can be observed on the rivers of Karelia and on mountain rivers in Siberia.

Freezing factors

There are several factors that determine ice thickness—type of water, location, air temperature, water temperature, water depth, size of the body of water, and the presence of underwater sources or currents, especially where streams or rivers enter or leave the body of water. But the first question you should ask yourself at the beginning or end of the season is: Is it cold enough outside long enough to create or maintain safe ice? If the answer is no, then it’s not time to go ice fishing.

When visiting a frozen body of water, perform a visual inspection before setting out. Look for cracks in the surface, which may be a sign of instability. Water sitting on top of the ice is obviously the easiest indicator of melting. In most cases, the ice along the edges of the shoreline will melt first.

Be careful around logs, rocks and docks - they absorb heat from the sun, which melts the surrounding ice much faster or causes it to form much more slowly. If the ice is soft or soft around the edges, stay away from it. Don't try to jump over soft ice in hopes of landing on good ice. Good ice may be further away than you think, if it exists at all.

It is also very important to consider the color of the ice. Pure blue ice is the strongest and safest

Forms when the temperature has been at least -8ºC for three weeks in a row. The colder it gets, the faster blue ice forms. With a minimum thickness of 12 inches, blue ice will support even large vehicles such as mid-size pickup trucks (see Support System).

White opaque ice is twice as strong as blue ice. It is formed by the wet freezing of snow on top of pre-existing ice. Often called snow ice, it is most dangerous when it forms on the surface of ice that has not completely frozen. When this happens, the ice below takes longer to freeze and turn into blue ice. During early winter and spring snow storms, the opaque ice is known to cover dangerously thin ice, catching ice anglers by surprise

Use extreme caution when driving on snowy ice and check the thickness every 100 meters with an ice auger

Dull gray ice is the least safe. Why? Because it's melting. Gray coloration indicates the presence of water, meaning the ice will not support much weight, if any. Gray ice is most common during the spring melt, although it can be found all winter near moving water, such as where streams and rivers flow into or out of a body of water. These same areas often have undercurrents that can make the ice unstable, so avoid them. And remember, no fish is worth the risk of failure.

Safety precautions when fishing on ice

In order to be exposed to as little risk as possible while fishing, you must strictly follow the rules of conduct on a frozen body of water:

It is not advisable to go fishing alone, so that if an accident occurs, another person can help the failed fisherman. But you should remember that you cannot be too close to a person who has fallen into the wormwood. To provide assistance, it is advisable to take claws or a rope with a board with you.
Under no circumstances should several fishermen gather in a small area at once, since the thickness of the ice may not be enough to support their weight.
It is advisable to choose places for fishing in the summer, studying the bottom topography, as well as places with strong currents or underwater springs. To identify depressions and shallows, you can use navigators or echo sounders.
Do not fish after a thaw, rain or frost, which makes the ice surface fragile and loose.
You cannot drill holes close to each other, especially if the thickness of the ice cover is not too thick.
It is not recommended to hang the box and other equipment on yourself. The belt needs to be made shorter and the box must be carried in the hands in order to have time to quickly throw it if the fisherman falls into the wormwood or there is such a danger. It is better to lose all your equipment than to drown in icy water yourself.
At the first suspicion that the ice may break due to the fact that the thickness of the frozen coating is small, it is necessary to change the place as quickly as possible, moving closer to the shore and while observing the conditions for safe movement.
It is advisable to take a communication device with you so that in an emergency you can call rescuers or inform relatives about your location.
It will not be superfluous to wear a special swimming suit or life jacket while fishing, thanks to which you can stay in the water for some time until rescuers arrive or receive help from another fisherman.

Every person going out on the ice should familiarize themselves with these rules and safety measures, since even an active bite and the richest catch do not serve as a reason for the risk to which he can expose his life.

Safe fishing on ice

The safety of movement on ice depends on a whole set of factors that need to be taken into account by the winter fisherman, and they are related to the nature of the evolution of the ice cover, the type of reservoir, and the climatic conditions prevailing in a given winter.

Today we will talk about the global prerequisites for the formation of ice of one type or another, since they determine the tactics of safe behavior on it.

First of all, the freeze-up period can be divided into three main stages: first ice, hard ice and last ice.

It often happens (even in central Russia, not to mention the more southern regions) that there are several short periods of formation of temporary ice cover, which, not achieving sufficient strength, is then washed away by rain, weakened by damp fogs and broken by the wind.

At such moments, the most common tragic incidents occur with reckless fishermen who do not have the patience to endure a week or two. In such a situation, it is better not to rush, moderate your spiritual ardor and devote the time of the outstanding off-season to carefully preparing winter fishing equipment or extend the very effective late-autumn spinning hunt on large rivers, where there are also no edges.

How ice thickness increases depending on temperature

Sufficient ice thickness for fishing is gained around the end of November-beginning of December. Small bodies of water that have no current freeze first.

A large reservoir requires lower temperatures to freeze. Wind and waves constantly break up the thin ice crust, and mixed layers of water prevent it from freezing.

On a quiet frosty day or night, the surface will freeze, then the ice will grow evenly.

Only snowfalls and thaws can become a serious obstacle. Even a frost of 20 degrees breaks through a small layer of snow with great difficulty.

The following points can be noted in the relationship between ice thickness and temperature:

If the ambient air temperature remains around zero degrees Celsius for 4 days, then the strength of the natural coating of the reservoir is reduced by 25%. Going out on fragile ice is life-threatening. During the early thaw, winter fishing is not recommended.
When the air temperature drops to -5 degrees, the ice begins to grow steadily. However, the indicator will not be enough for safe movement.
At an air temperature of -1 degree Celsius, the freezing rate is only 2.5 mm per day. At -5 degrees Celsius, the increase per day is about 12 mm. Deep-sea bodies of water freeze at a slower rate.
An increase in the thickness of the cover occurs even when snow falls, although with a slowdown.
Only with a stable frost of -10 degrees can you count on a significant increase in thickness.

Transparent autumn ice is the most flexible, but at the same time very dangerous if you fall in a deep place. The fact is that due to its thinness it does not have sufficient buoyancy. In other words, the edges of the hole will constantly fall through when trying to climb out. It is very difficult to get out of such a trap, especially without special tools and skills.

Optimal ice thickness for fishing

In most regions of our country, the optimal ice thickness for fishing in the winter season is considered to be ice of at least seven centimeters, and optimally ten to twelve centimeters.

Crossings along which you can cross on foot from one bank to another must be provided that the ice thickness is at least fifteen centimeters.

Automobile authorized ice crossings open when the ice on reservoirs reaches at least thirty centimeters thick.

How to catch more fish?

Over 13 years of active fishing, I have found many ways to improve the bite. And here are the most effective:

Bite activator. Attracts fish in cold and warm water with the help of pheromones included in the composition and stimulates its appetite. It’s a pity that Rosprirodnadzor wants to impose a ban on its sale.
More sensitive gear. Read the relevant manuals for a specific type of gear on the pages of my website.
Pheromone-based lures.

You can get the rest of the secrets of successful fishing for free by reading my other materials on the site. It is worth noting that ice can be of different thicknesses in different parts of the reservoir: for example, it is thinnest near the banks, at the confluence of rivers, as well as where rivers flow into the sea, at various bends of rivers, and also at the place where they merge sewerage

Signs of fragile ice

Remember the main signs of fragile ice, which is deadly to go out on:

It is usually loose, porous, white ice.
Water flows out of the holes.
A characteristic sound of squelching and crackling is heard.
Fragile ice can be covered with snow, and therefore poses an even greater danger, since it is difficult to see in time

How to check ice thickness?

Before you go out on the ice, you can make sure of its strength as follows:

Evaluate the appearance of the ice surface

1.1. Self-defense with crystal ice (Fig. 1)

Cooling air and evaporation of water from its surface leads to a decrease in the temperature of the surface layer of coastal waters to zero. When the water surface temperature reaches zero degrees, and the air has a temperature below zero, all monohydrols and dihydrols will instantly combine in the surface layer of water so that ice molecules are created. Coastal ice will appear (take care). In severe frost, the entire water area will be covered with thin ice. The released heat of ice formation will warm the water. Ice insulates the surface of the water from cold air. If the ice thickness is not sufficient to raise the temperature of the lower surface of the ice to zero, then the process of glaciation of the next layer of water will continue. The thickness of the ice will increase.

The process will end after the temperature of the lower surface of the ice reaches zero. The temperature of the water surface in contact with the ice will also be set to zero. The position of the crystallization centers on the lower surface of the ice is stationary, therefore, crystalline ice of a columnar structure is formed, lying on the water in the banks and on the reaches

Now, a small temporary increase in air or water temperature above zero will not significantly change the thickness of the ice, since the temperature differences between the ice and the adjacent environments are insufficient.

The increase in ice thickness continues for about half of the winter until the transition to minimum air temperatures. Ice thickness may not increase as snow accumulates on the ice. The process accelerates as the ice loses thermal conductivity, due to a decrease in its thickness due to evaporation from the surface and a change in its density.

Safe Ice Thickness for Ice Fishing

Winter fishing is an exciting and interesting hobby. However, it is fraught with danger - at any moment the ice under the fisherman can fail, and the person will find himself in cold water

To protect yourself and your friends, it is important to know what the safe ice thickness is for fishing.

How to behave on ice

Correct behavior on ice

It is equally important to choose the right place to descend onto the ice. It should be a comfortable, flat place

Otherwise, there is a risk of slipping and falling on the ice, breaking it.

It is important to remember that a person with a large weight, and fishing equipment weighs a lot, is exposed to additional danger. Before going out on the ice, you should loosen the straps of your backpack so that if something happens you can quickly throw it off

You can buy new equipment, but there’s simply nowhere to get new life.

What to do if you find yourself in water

If for some reason you or one of your comrades falls into the water, it is very important not to panic, pull yourself together and act quickly but carefully. First of all, you need to throw off excess weight: a backpack, and if possible, then wet shoes. To calm down and relax, spread your arms wide and lean on the ice.

Just be careful not to break off the edge.

To calm down and relax, spread your arms wide and lean on the ice. Just be careful not to break off the edge.

First of all, you need to throw off excess weight: a backpack, and if possible, then wet shoes. To calm down and relax, spread your arms wide and lean on the ice. Just be careful not to break off the edge.

If the reservoir is not deep, and a person can reach the bottom with his feet without completely plunging into the water, then he needs to push off from the bottom with his feet and try to throw his body as far as possible onto the ice floe, and then take his feet out of the water one by one.

If the bottom is deep, you will have to get out without support. In this case, you also need to spread your arms, lean on the ice floe and jerkly lie down on the ice floe with your stomach or at least your chest. Then you need to gradually crawl onto the ice floe and throw your legs on it. When a person completely gets out of the water, you need to crawl along the ice floe without getting up on your feet.

If you see someone falling into the water, you need to act quickly. In cold water, hypothermia quickly sets in, and the victim loses strength very quickly. First of all, with a loud cry, notify the person that help is coming to him. This will cheer up the victim, give him hope, and calm him down.

If it is possible to save a person without leaving the shore, it is better to do just that: throw a rope or stretch a long stick to the drowning person and use them to pull the person onto the ice. If you have to walk on the ice to the place of the break, then, despite the need to do everything quickly, you cannot rush: sudden movements can provoke a new crack in the ice. It is better to lie down on the surface and crawl towards the gap.

Don't crawl to the very edge. Stop at a safe distance and use the same rope or stick to save yourself.

How to determine the thickness of ice by color - expert advice November 12, 2021, 11:18

In connection with the approaching cold season and freezing of rivers and reservoirs, emergency specialists urge residents of the region to be careful on the ice. Experts gave some advice on how to determine how safe it is by the color of ice, the correspondent reports.

“Ice of blue color is durable, white ice is half as strong, matte white or with a yellowish tint is unreliable,” said the Department of Emergency Situations of the Almaty Region.

According to statistics from the autumn-winter period, most often emergency situations happen to amateur fishermen.

“During the initial period of ice formation and freeze-up, fishing, pedestrian and vehicle traffic are strictly prohibited. You can fish only when the ice thickness reaches seven centimeters. But even such ice can be dangerous if there is a short-term thaw and rain. It is necessary to beware of deep cracks under the snow; it is not recommended to make several holes at a close distance from one another, this will weaken the ice,” the message says.

Accidents are also common with those who neglect safety rules when crossing and driving on thin ice. According to data provided by the Department of Emergency Situations of the Almaty region, there are several gradations of safe ice thickness:

- for one person - at least 10 centimeters; - for crossing on foot - 15 centimeters or more; — for the passage of cars — at least 30 centimeters;

Experts note that in running waters, as well as in places where aquatic vegetation grows, near trees, bushes, and reeds, the ice strength is weakened. Ice strength decreases by 25 percent at air temperatures above zero degrees for three days. In this case, the strength of ice can be determined visually.

It is strictly forbidden to cross or cross a body of water on ice in unidentified and unverified places, to harvest ice, make fires, or dig holes for fishing in the crossing areas and in the vicinity of it. And also to cross and move bodies of water on ice in places where there are signs warning of possible danger, allow large groups of people, livestock and equipment to accumulate on ice, organize skating rinks, mass games and skiing competitions near ice crossings and near places that pose a danger to life, as well as when the ice thickness is less than 25 centimeters. You must not dump garbage, manure and other waste on the ice cover of a reservoir, use life-saving equipment for purposes other than their intended purpose, and unauthorizedly rearrange or remove warning signs. Experts also recommend following certain rules if you fall into cold water:

“Don’t panic, don’t make sudden movements, keep your breath. Stretch your arms to the sides and try to cling to the edge of the ice, giving your body a horizontal position, call for help: “I’m drowning!” Try to carefully place your chest on the edge of the ice and throw one and then the other leg onto the ice. If the ice has survived, rolling, slowly crawl in the direction from which you came, because here the ice has already been tested for strength.

If the disaster occurred not far from the shore and the victim is capable of active action, he needs to throw a rope, a scarf, a long stick, a board, a ladder and other available means of rescue. After removing the victim from the icy water, he must be immediately warmed up, taken to a warm room, and if necessary, call an ambulance,” say emergency services specialists.

The large rivers Ili, Koksu, Karatal, Aksu, Lepsy, Tentek and about 400 small rivers, canals and streams flow through the territory of the Almaty region. There are also 85 ponds and 75 reservoirs.

Let us remind you that on November 10, three children were playing on thin ice and fell into the water in the city of Zhitikara, Kostanay region. Two children born in 2013 and 2014 died before the ambulance arrived. The boy of 2011 was hospitalized. A pensioner who tried to help the children also had to be hospitalized.

Factors affecting ice strength

At first, ice forms unevenly, but as the water cools further, it increases in calm weather at a rate of 2.5 mm per day per degree of frost. If, for example, the air temperature is -4 degrees, then we can say that ice a centimeter thick can form within a day.

For clarity, we present a table of ice growth, depending on the ambient temperature.

Ice thickness	Ice thickness	Ice thickness
Air temperature	< 10 cm	10-20 cm	20-40 cm
Growth per day, cm	Growth per day, cm	Growth per day, cm
-5	4	1,5	0,5
-10	6	3	1,5
-15	8	4	2
-20	9	6	3

Expert opinion Alexander Petrovich participant of the Russian Championship in fishing with a float rod

It is worth considering that cloudy or brackish water freezes worse than clean and fresh water, and, accordingly, the increase in ice thickness occurs more slowly.

Other factors also have a big influence:

depth of the reservoir;
current strength;
snow cover thickness;
wind force, etc.

The thickness of the ice cover usually increases with such a direct dependence on small shallow lakes. In large lakes, not to mention the sea, a large mass of water in deep areas slows down freezing and the rate of increase in ice thickness cannot be determined from the shore.

Snow falling on transparent ice, one to two centimeters thick, is another danger for the lure angler. Even a small layer of snow slows down the growth of ice or even stops it completely.

If snow drifts onto the first ice properly, then a powerful snow cover presses the ice to the surface of the water. Water flows out through cracks onto the surface of the ice. Moving on ice becomes difficult and very dangerous, since the ice can break or even melt in the water under the snow.

Water that flows onto the ice is absorbed into the snow, forming slush. In these slushy areas, ice forms after they freeze. The bearing capacity of porous and brittle ice in areas of aufeis is half that of normal ice.

The temperature difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the ice, especially during a sharp cold snap, causes an uneven increase in the ice cover and the formation of polynyas. The water rises through the ice holes and freezes. With warming, water frozen in polynyas prevents ice floes from expanding to their original size. Internal stresses arise in the ice cover, which push the ice onto the shore, resulting in the creation of ice piles and hummocks.

Five-centimeter ice is already holding! Ice strength should be measured on a flat ice field. There must be at least 5 cm under a person walking alone, and for riding a snowmobile, the thickness of the ice on level ground must be 15 cm. When driving on ice, it is safe to move only on marked ice trails.

Expert opinion Alexander Petrovich participant of the Russian Championship in fishing with a float rod

Ice formed in windy weather is more fragile than ice formed in calm weather. Sea ice breaks more easily than ice on fresh water bodies.

Cracks reduce the load-bearing capacity of ice, even if they are not through. At the edge of a crack, the strength of the ice is only 40 percent of that of solid ice. The strength of the ice shell at the intersection of cracks is even less, and is only a quarter of the original.

The strength of ice can vary significantly over a short distance depending on the depth, bottom topography and currents. Therefore, a hiker should check the thickness of the ice from time to time.

Traveling on ice using transport

When driving on ice on a snowmobile or some other means of transportation, the load-bearing capacity of the ice, in addition to its thickness, is affected by the movement of water waves under the ice arising from the vehicle. Ice strength is minimal when the speed of the vehicle is higher than the speed of the advancing wave.

When approaching the shore, the speed should be less than 20 km/h, and the shoreline should be literally crawled both when returning and when going onto the ice. You should beware of ice that may simply hang on the coastal rocks. The speed must also be reduced when approaching another snowmobile.

When driving behind each other, the snowmobile behind is exposed to greater danger due to the wave movements of water and ice.