History of Ice in Timeline

Ice is water in a solid state, forming at or below 0°C. It's found naturally on Earth, other planets, and in interstellar space. Classified as a mineral due to its crystalline structure, ice's appearance ranges from transparent to opaque bluish-white, influenced by impurities like soil particles or air bubbles. Its formation and properties are fundamental in various scientific fields.

1919: Icing conditions during the first non-stop transatlantic flight

In 1919, during the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic, John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown encountered icing conditions, requiring Brown to manually remove ice from the engine air intakes of their Vickers Vimy aircraft.

1939: Bowden and Hughes research on ice friction

In 1939, Frank P. Bowden and T. P. Hughes's research found that pressure melting alone could not account for the slipperiness of ice, suggesting that heating and melting caused by friction also contributed.

1941: Operation of the Road of Life across Lake Ladoga

In the winter of 1941, the Road of Life across Lake Ladoga began operating, providing the only land route to relieve the Siege of Leningrad during World War II.

1942: Continued operation of the Road of Life across Lake Ladoga

In the winter of 1942, the Road of Life across Lake Ladoga continued to operate, providing the only land route to relieve the Siege of Leningrad during World War II.

1943: Operation of the Road of Life across Lake Ladoga

In the winter of 1943, the Road of Life across Lake Ladoga continued to operate, providing the only land route to relieve the Siege of Leningrad during World War II.

1965: Frigidaire presents built-in icemaker

In 1965, Frigidaire presented the first home refrigerators with a built-in icemaker.

1969: Start of carburetor icing incidents

Between 1969 and 1975, 468 incidents of carburetor icing were recorded, causing 75 aircraft losses, 44 fatalities, and 202 serious injuries.

1975: End of carburetor icing incidents reporting period

Between 1969 and 1975, 468 incidents of carburetor icing were recorded, causing 75 aircraft losses, 44 fatalities, and 202 serious injuries.

1992: Start of the period for measuring sea ice loss

Between 1992 and 2018, global losses of sea ice have had the same impact as 10% of greenhouse gas emissions over the same period.

1994: Start of the period for measuring ice loss

Between 1994 and 2017, 28 trillion tonnes of ice were lost around the globe as a result of greenhouse gas emissions.

1994: End of ice harvesting for the Hungarian Parliament building

Until 1994, the Hungarian Parliament building used ice harvested in the winter from Lake Balaton for air conditioning.

1996: Discovery of Ice XII

In 1996, Ice XII, one of the metastable phases of ice under pressure and fully hydrogen-disordered, was discovered.

2002: Commercial ice-making industry in the United States

In 2002, there were 426 commercial ice-making companies in the United States, with a combined value of shipments of $595,487,000.

2006: Discovery of Ice XIII and Ice XIV

In 2006, Ice XIII and Ice XIV, hydrogen-ordered forms of ices Ih, V, and XII respectively, were discovered.

2009: Discovery of Ice XV

In 2009, ice XV was found at extremely high pressures and −143 °C.

2014: Research suggests frictional heating is most important process

2014 research suggests that frictional heating is the most important process under most typical conditions regarding the frictional properties of ice.

2017: End of the period for measuring ice loss

Between 1994 and 2017, 28 trillion tonnes of ice were lost around the globe as a result of greenhouse gas emissions.

2018: End of the period for measuring sea ice loss

Between 1992 and 2018, global losses of sea ice have had the same impact as 10% of greenhouse gas emissions over the same period.

May 2019: Redefinition of the kelvin

In May 2019, the definition of the kelvin changed from being based on the triple point of water to a definition based on fixed values of physical constants.