What is ice phenology? Phenology is the timing of natural events: e.g. when do flowers bloom, or birds migrate? Ice phenology in lakes is the timing of freeze up (ice-on) and break up (ice-off). Tracking shifts in ice phenology is important for understanding multiple aspects of lake ecosystems and lake responses to climate, as presence or absence of ice can affect physical, chemical, and biological conditions in lakes.
The Maine Mountain Ponds project has been monitoring ice phenology in 9 mountain ponds for > 10 years using water temperature and, when available, satellite imagery.
How can you help us monitor ice phenology? Submit a photo of a mountain pond in the winter!
Ways to submit a photo:
- Upload your photo here!
- Upload your photo to our Facebook page.
- Tag @mainemountainponds on Instagram
- Hashtag your Instagram photo with #mmp[insertpondname], e.g. #mmpTumbledown or #mmpHorns
- Email to amanda.gavin |at| maine.edu
Please be sure to include date and location in your photo submission!
Hiking Directions:
- Midway, easy
- South, easy
- Mountain (Rangeley), moderate
- Eddy, moderate
- Tumbledown, moderate/road closed in winter requires additional hiking
- Cloud, hard
- Horns, hard
- Cranberry, hard
- Speck, hard
Winter hiking tips and safety precautions can be found here.
Information on ice thickness and safety can be found here. We recommend taking pictures from the shore and not venturing onto ice in the backcountry.
This community science effort is a part of this project on lake phenology.
Maine Mountain Ponds 