1:45 PM - 3:15 PM
[O05-P20] Growth of frost pillars
Keywords:frost pillars growth
The Tokorozawa High School Faculty of Earth Science has been conducting experimental research on the growth of frost pillars over the past few years. Generally, frost pillars are frozen by water which is sucked up from underground due to capillary phenomenon and grows as crystal of ice. We conducted reproduction experiments and observations with the aim of learning more about the mechanism of its occurrence.
Research in the last few years found the following. 1, frost pillars occur on the surface of wet porous soil. (There are moist soil on the underside of the of the frost pillars both in the field and in the laboratory equipment) 2, geothermal works for the growth of the frost pillars. 3, due to radiative cooling, solid particles on the ground surface become nuclei, moisture adheres thereto, and solid frost pillars grow.
The experimental method is as follows. Place a transparent partition around the center of a plastic box, set up soil on one side on one side and a camera on the other side. We add water to the soil side. And lay heating wires. Measure the temperature of the bottom of the unit, 3 cm deep in the ground, the surface and in the air with a data recorder. Shoot with the camera every minute. We made a moving image by continuously reproducing the images. An experiment using water mixed with a blue coloring agent was also conducted.
Firstly, an experiment was conducted using a blue coloring agent. Blue colored frost pillars occurred. Therefore frost pillars grow by the solidification of water. Next, we observed the cross section. We saw the white streaks representing the underwater surface. Streaks climb, big growing when it come to the surface. The growth of frost pillars formation is intense when the temperature in the freezer is low. And it is gentle when temperature is high. At that time, increase and decrease of condensations (water droplets) were confirmed on the cross section plate. Also, a fringe pattern entered the frost pillar bodies. These were frost pillars made by experiment. Even natural occurring frost pillars were the same. These were because the part involving mud separates up from the part with no mud. The frost pillars made by the experiment had narrow striped patterns. And the frost pillars contained rich muds were made when the temperature inside the freezer was high.
Throughout this experiment, frost pillars grow by solidification of water. They grow remarkably when the temperature is low. It turned out that it gentle when it is high. Also, the portion of the frost pillars where mud particles are involved enters when the temperature is high. Therefore, in natural frost pillars, the change in temperature is moderate, so the distance between stripes and next stripes is considered to be long.
Research in the last few years found the following. 1, frost pillars occur on the surface of wet porous soil. (There are moist soil on the underside of the of the frost pillars both in the field and in the laboratory equipment) 2, geothermal works for the growth of the frost pillars. 3, due to radiative cooling, solid particles on the ground surface become nuclei, moisture adheres thereto, and solid frost pillars grow.
The experimental method is as follows. Place a transparent partition around the center of a plastic box, set up soil on one side on one side and a camera on the other side. We add water to the soil side. And lay heating wires. Measure the temperature of the bottom of the unit, 3 cm deep in the ground, the surface and in the air with a data recorder. Shoot with the camera every minute. We made a moving image by continuously reproducing the images. An experiment using water mixed with a blue coloring agent was also conducted.
Firstly, an experiment was conducted using a blue coloring agent. Blue colored frost pillars occurred. Therefore frost pillars grow by the solidification of water. Next, we observed the cross section. We saw the white streaks representing the underwater surface. Streaks climb, big growing when it come to the surface. The growth of frost pillars formation is intense when the temperature in the freezer is low. And it is gentle when temperature is high. At that time, increase and decrease of condensations (water droplets) were confirmed on the cross section plate. Also, a fringe pattern entered the frost pillar bodies. These were frost pillars made by experiment. Even natural occurring frost pillars were the same. These were because the part involving mud separates up from the part with no mud. The frost pillars made by the experiment had narrow striped patterns. And the frost pillars contained rich muds were made when the temperature inside the freezer was high.
Throughout this experiment, frost pillars grow by solidification of water. They grow remarkably when the temperature is low. It turned out that it gentle when it is high. Also, the portion of the frost pillars where mud particles are involved enters when the temperature is high. Therefore, in natural frost pillars, the change in temperature is moderate, so the distance between stripes and next stripes is considered to be long.