Which term describes ice with a snow/layered appearance?

• A. Frazil
• B. Clear
• C. Snow/layered
• D. Candled

Answer: (C)

Ice types are often described by how the surface looks, as appearance helps indicate how the ice formed and how strong it might be. When ice has a snow-covered surface with a layered, stratified look, that’s described as snow/layered ice. This appearance comes from snow that sits on top and from successive freezing events creating visible layers beneath, which can indicate variability in thickness and weaker spots hidden under the snow. The other patterns don’t match this appearance: frazil ice is loose, needle-like crystals floating in turbulent water and does not form distinct snow-like layers; clear ice is transparent and glassy, showing a uniform, solid structure without a snowy coating; candled ice shows vertical, candle-like markings from air trapped during directional freezing, giving a striped look rather than a snowy layered one.