This post will be a bit shorter. Went back to the lake on Monday, and looked a little harder at the fractures. Noticed something that I think may well give insight into earthquakes. The fractures (cracks) were pretty much smooth near the ice surface. Some were smooth at all depths. But, others locally shattered the heck out of the ice-virtually exploded it. One place where this occurs it a branches-where cracks split off. Another place it occurs is where cracks hit an intersection, or a sharp bend. There were other shattered areas (I mean on a 1 mm scale-just trashed) that did not have an obvious cause.

John, if you read this-chime in....I think this is what happens in earthquakes-the source of much strong ground motion is, I think, where the rupture accelerates or decelerates. This may happen in the same positions seen in ice......(?).

9" of snow-ice research (and outdoor skating) may be done for the year.
Chris