Here, we’re looking at sea ice during low tide in Blue Hill Bay. As the tide rises, the ice will rise on top of it like a tattered silk robe. Then, most of its tears will heal themselves and there will be a layer of fairly (but not completely) uniform white ice atop the water.
For the past decade, it seems, we’ve been getting less and less sea ice, which corresponds to the increases in our ambient and water temperatures. This winter, so far, the sea ice seems to have appeared only in nooks and crannies in the coves and harbors, if it appeared at all. Oldtimers will tell you about the miles of thick sea ice that used to appear on open water and support carriages and trucks driving to the islands.
Due to its salt content, sea water doesn’t freeze until the temperature drops to 28.4 degrees (F) and stays there or below for some time. During the process, the ice is purified and can be melted into drinkable water. (Blue Hill; image taken January 25, 2021)