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Small bodies of water in densely populated areas have not yet been thoroughly studied in terms of their ice cover. Filling the existing research gap related to ice cover occurrence is therefore important for identifying natural processes (e.g., response to climate warming and water oxygenation in winter), and also has socio-economic significance (e.g., reducing the risk of loss of health and life for potential ice cover users). This paper addresses the issue of determining the utility of two simple empirical models based on the accumulated freezing degree-days (AFDD) formula for predicting maximum ice thickness in water bodies. The study covered 11 small anthropogenic water bodies located in the Katowice Upland and consisted of comparing the values obtained from modelling with actual ice thicknesses observed during three winter seasons (2009/2010, 2010/2011, and 2011/2012). The best fit was obtained between the values observed and those calculated using Stefan's formula with an empirical coefficient of 0.014. A poorer fit was obtained for Zubov's formula (with the exception of the 2011/2012 season), which is primarily due to the fact that this model does not account for the thickness of the snow accumulated on the ice cover. Bengst'cise forecasting of the state of the ice cover and the provision of the relevant information to interested users will increase the safety of using such water bodies in climate warming conditions, reducing the number of accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations of lake ice at the shore, complete ice cover, ice duration, ice thickness and other measures for 18 Polish lakes were collected for the 50 year period (1961–2010). Average ice dates in early winter became later: first appearance of ice along shore 2.3 days decade −1 and complete ice cover 1.2 days decade −1 while complete ice cover disappeared earlier (5.6 days decade −1 ) as did last ice at the shore (4.3 days decade −1 ). The duration of ice cover decreased by 5.6 days decade −1 and average ice thickness declined by 6.1 cm decade −1 . The magnitude of these values for individual lakes decreased from eastern to western Poland. This geographic gradient is likely related to regional atmospheric circulation because in winter this part of Europe is strongly affected by continental air, an influence that is greater in the east. A multivariate redundancy analysis (RDA), used in order to examine the dependence of ice measures on lake physical properties and location, indicated longitude and altitude as key factors explaining lake ice dynamics such as the disappearance of ice and ice cover, ice cover duration and thickness. Lake volume and average depth influenced mostly the appearance of ice and ice cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the formation, break-up, and duration of ice phenomena and ice cover on Lake Morskie Oko (1,395.4 metres above sea level (masl)), which is a representative of high mountain lakes in the Tatra Mountains located in the western Carpathian Mountains with a maximum elevation of 2,655 masl in the period 1971-2010. The maximum thickness was analyzed additionally. The lake covers an area of nearly 32 hectares and its greatest depth is 51.8 m. Its water is very clear with transparency reaching 12.5 m in depth. The trend towards a delayed freeze-up reaches 4.1 days per decade (d decade-1) (p < 0.01) and the ablation of ice on Lake Morskie Oko tends to take place earlier at a rate of 4.5 d decade (p < 0,05). The time period with ice cover on the lake has been getting shorter at a rate of 10 d decade-1 during the time frame of interest. Results of ice cover research on Lake Morskie Oko are consistent with recent studies which have shown that ice duration on lakes throughout the Northern Hemisphere has decreased over the last few decades and they serve as new evidence which confirms a warming of the climate in this section of Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]