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The Sea Ice is Back

The sea ice is back. Yesterday Director Andy Beahm took a walk down to the Presumpscot River edge off the North Meadow at Gilsland Farm and noticed the ice forming along the shore, in amongst the tall grasses.

The return of the ice is another sign of the progression into winter. Ocean and brackish waters, containing varying levels of salt, freeze just like freshwater, but at lower temperatures. Fresh water freezes at 32° Fahrenheit (0° Celcius) but seawater freezes at about 28.4° F (-2° C), because of the salt in it. When seawater freezes, however, the ice contains very little salt because only the water freezes. It can be melted down and used as drinking water.

These small markers, taken in one at a time, remind us to look up, look close, and enjoy the world of Maine seasons.