The New England Deep Freeze

Between February 3rd and February 4th, the temperature at our test site reached less than 30F below zero. On February 5th, our Chief Scientist, Peter Stein, inspected the SnowPod® to see if the intense cold had damaged the equipment. Despite ice and snow covering the water collection area and SnowPod®, the water was still flowing freely underneath the ice, and our equipment was operating normally.

The ground temperature, which was higher than the ambient air, helped warm the water, and the layer of ice over the stream provided insulation from the much colder air. As particles of water in the stream freeze, they rise to the surface, adding to the insulating layer of ice.

3 days before the New England cold snap