December 9, 2007 - Ice Up Welcome to the Nature Notebook. As daily temperatures continue to drop, ponds quickly lose their heat to the cold air. Night after night water temperatures edge downward just a bit until one night it happens: ice forms. Fortunately for aquatic animals like frogs, turtles and many insects, ice forms at the surface of the pond. If it formed at the bottom, those critters hibernating in the mud would freeze. As it is, these pond creatures get a little assistance in cold weather. Ice forming over the surface of a pond actually seals in what little heat is left. The ice protects the pond waters from cold winds that would otherwise rob the water of its meager heat. This keeps the pond and its inhabitants from freezing solid except in the most extreme conditions. Even though this first ice might not last through the day, it won't be long before ponds and lakes are locked tight for the winter. This is PPL's naturalist, Jon Beam, with the Nature Notebook for WVIA.