Many fish and aquatic plants can survive a cold winter because the layer of

ice that forms at the top of the lake insulates the water below and prevents

the lake from freezing solid. What unique property of water contributes to

this effect?

Question

Deshawn Shelton

Biology

21 September, 12:42

Many fish and aquatic plants can survive a cold winter because the layer of

ice that forms at the top of the lake insulates the water below and prevents

the lake from freezing solid. What unique property of water contributes to

this effect?

+4

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Zain Pruitt · Answer 1

Water expands on cooling below 4 degrees Celcius.

Explanation:

This means the water becomes less dense because the same mass of water occupies more volume. This is called the 'water anomaly' because other liquids reduce in volume with temperatures. Ice will, therefore, float on very cold water. In cold regions this ice sheet formation in lakes and oceans is significant in insulating the waters below from losing more heat. Consequently, the waters below the ice sheet remain liquid maintaining the aquatic life below the ice.

Many fish and aquatic plants can survive a cold winter because the layer ofice that forms at the top of the lake insulates the water below and preventsthe lake from freezing solid. What unique property of water contributes tothis effect?

Many fish and aquatic plants can survive a cold winter because the layer of

ice that forms at the top of the lake insulates the water below and prevents

the lake from freezing solid. What unique property of water contributes to

this effect?