History of Ice in Timeline

Ice is water in its solid state, forming at or below 0°C. It exists naturally on Earth and other celestial bodies. Due to its crystalline structure, ice is classified as a mineral. Its appearance varies from transparent to opaque bluish-white depending on impurities. Ice is a common and significant component of Earth's environment and is crucial in various scientific fields.

1919: Icing conditions during first non-stop transatlantic flight

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

1939: Bowden and Hughes research on ice friction

In 1939, Frank P. Bowden and T. P. Hughes researched ice friction, finding that pressure melting alone couldn't explain the slipperiness of ice and suggesting that friction causes heating and melting of the ice layer.

1942: The Road of Life across Lake Ladoga during the Siege of Leningrad

In the winter of 1942-1943, the Road of Life across Lake Ladoga continued to operate, serving as the only land route for the Soviet Union to relieve the Siege of Leningrad by the German Army Group North. Trucks transported supplies into the city and evacuated civilians.

1943: The Road of Life across Lake Ladoga during the Siege of Leningrad

1965: Frigidaire presents the first home refrigerator with a built-in icemaker

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

1969: Aircraft losses due to carburetor icing

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

1975: Aircraft losses due to carburetor icing

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

1992: Global losses of sea ice between 1992 and 2018

Global losses of sea ice between 1992 and 2018, almost all of them in the Arctic, have already had the same impact as 10% of greenhouse gas emissions over the same period.

1994: Ice loss between 1994 and 2017

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

1994: End of ice harvesting for Hungarian Parliament Building air conditioning

Until 1994, the Hungarian Parliament building used ice harvested in the winter from Lake Balaton for air conditioning, a practice that ended that year.

1996: Discovery of Ice XII

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

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 were discovered. These ices are hydrogen-ordered forms of ices Ih, V, and XII respectively.

2009: Discovery of Ice XV

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

2014: Research on frictional heating of ice

Research in 2014 suggested that frictional heating is the most important process under most typical conditions regarding the frictional properties of ice.

2017: Ice loss between 1994 and 2017

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

2018: Global losses of sea ice between 1992 and 2018

Global losses of sea ice between 1992 and 2018, almost all of them in the Arctic, have already 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 defined as 1/273.16 of the difference between the triple point of water and absolute zero.