Small needle-like ice crystals, typically 3 to 4 millimeters in diameter, suspended in water. They represent the first stages of sea ice growth; they merge under calm conditions to form thin sheets of ice on the surface and consist of nearly pure fresh water. In fresh water, they form in supercooled water that is too turbulent to permit coagulation into sheet ice. This is most common in swiftly flowing streams. They may accumulate as anchor ice on submerged objects obstructing the water flow.
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