Springtime is turning out to be a strange time this year. I'm seeing things that I've never seen before. Can you tell what this is? Scroll down and take a look at the anomaly that I found on my water pipe the other day.
I understand that the icicles formed when they delivered water to my house. A little water always runs back down the pipe after they disconnect the hose. The feathery crystals would have formed later on one of the many foggy days we've had lately, but the shape of the icicles has me stumped. Weird, huh?
10 comments:
I love frost and the crystal structure that they can sometimes form. Your "anomaly" looks like a pair of angel wings to me. Just a thought.
Those are odd, but neat. It's strange that things can look so different up there. Do you see the same things other places around the village? Do others think this 'stuff' is interesting too, or are they jaded by now? Thanks for sharing.
Rm
Just a guess, but I imagine that the shape was formed by a wind. The drops would be kept on one side of the icicle and the icicle built up over time, and slightly different winds.
Hi, Bryan.
Yes, I thought the same thing about angel wings! (not that I've ever ACTUALLY seen any). And I agree...frost is very cool (pun only slightly intended). :)
Rm, I haven't seen anything that looks like THAT. There are lots of icicles all around the village...some are pretty large, but not such a strange shape. I think others find this sort of thing interesting when it's pointed out, but probably wouldn't notice it otherwise. (I'm the weird one that looks at snowflakes through binoculars!) I'm sure there are some that think I'm crazy...especially when they see me constantly taking pictures of that silly yellow playground duck! LOL!
Clare,
I'm sure you're right about the formation being due to wind, but it still seems very odd to me. I've lived in this house for four years and have never seen anything like it. I guess all the conditions had to be exactly right. Most of the drips that freeze on the pipe look exactly like drips...not angel wings. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I love finding things in nature I can't explain, and this would qualify. Some thoughts are trying to happen, though.
When I was a kid, we used to drink out of the water faucets in the yard while we were playing; it saved us time from having to go inside to get something to drink, tracking mud into the kitchen, and all that bother. I would not put my lips on the metal spout, but sometimes they would touch, anyway. When they did touch, there would be a shock, like the current from touching a 9-volt battery to your tongue, though weaker. I never did understand why there would be electrical current finding its way into the water pipes. Perhaps the running water had enough friction inside the pipes that a static electricity buildup was perpetually supplied and felt like a steady current, instead.
Whatever the cause of our shocked lips, maybe you pipe has a buildup of electricity, too. If so, it might be possible that the water droplets coming off the end act as an extention of the metal conductivity of it, and as such are freezing into alignment with another nearby prevalent force...magnetic north, perhaps. The stronger force of gravity pulls most of the water down, but enough magnetic attraction is there to draw smaller amounts to the side, causing the wing shape. Is it possible that you've got an anomalystic compass growing there on your water pipes? It would be interesting to determine how they are actually oriented.
Or, it could be the wind.
You know, Steve, I considered an anomalystic compass, but my tricorder readings were inconclusive. I've recently ordered a new flux capacitor (my old one is weary with use) and hope to be able to determine whether the pipe is, indeed, conducting electrical energy, essentially creating a closed system whereby the polarized dielectric charge is stored and flux dispersal is encouraged. Of course, I'll need a fresh supply of plutonium to move forward with my research.
No telling how much I'll have to pay for shipping.
:)
Oh my!
You're getting pretty technical, there. Throw in a light sabre and a Ghost Busters back pack ("Don't cross the beams!") and you'll have the main advancements of a certain generation all covered.
Beam me outta here, Scotty! =D
Whatever they are, they're Pretty!!
Steve...
Hey, I can't compete with all the real stuff you know, but (armed with a little movie jargon) I can certainly fake it for a while. :)
Laurie...
Yeah, I considered working Scotty in there somewhere, but thought that might diminish the credibility of my answer. (yeah, right!) :)
They were pretty. I wish I'd have brushed the frost off and gotten a better look before they disappeared.
Something I forgot to mention is that, although I assume the icicles were formed from water draining down the pipe, if you look at the third photo (er, the next to last one in the the series) you can see that the icicles are barely attached to the pipe and the connection is NOT from inside or outside, but on the very edge of the pipe. I'll say it again...strange.
And, by the way, the icicles were oriented due north. :)
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