Another take on the idea that water turns
to vapour when it is considerably warmer than its surroundings.
In this picture, water is being exposed at the "tide-cracks" that
form around offshore rocks and small islands when the tide rises
and falls with continuous sea-ice present. As the ice is not flexible
it cracks and as it does, exposes an amount of open water to the
air.
Antarctic sea water varies between about +2°C
and -2°C (the letter being the freezing point of sea water) over
the course of a year, so in the case of this picture, the exposed
sea water is more than 30°C warmer than the surrounding air. The
result - it begins to turn to a vapour being so much warmer. The
sunshine on this day serves to make it more visible and different
temperature layers in the air cause it to rise to a band above the
clearer air close to the ice surface.
Paul Ward - Pentax equipment,
50mm lens, 35mm film, K64.
This picture may not be copied
or used in any manner without prior written permission.