Sea ice formation.When seawater begins to freeze, it forms tiny crystals onlymillimetres wide called
Sea ice formation.When seawater begins to freeze, it forms tiny crystals onlymillimetres wide called frazil. They coalesce into largermasses of ice in one of two ways.In calm seas, the frazil forms wafer-thin ice sheets called nilas[1]. The nilas are so smooth that they have an oily or greasyappearance. These thin ice sheets slide over each other, and formrafts of thicker ice.In rought seas, the ice crystals coverge into slushy pancake discs[2]. These “pancakes” slide over each other to form smooth rafts[3]. Over time, the rafts collide with each other, forming thickpressure ridges along the margins [4]. -- source link
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