Why don’t bodies of water freeze in the winter, even when ice or snow forms?
Bodies of water do freeze in the winter. Have you heard of ice fishing?
http://www.google.com/#q=+bodies+of+water+freeze+in+the+winter
It's because sometimes there is too much water for it to freeze, and sometimes the water is moving too fast. If you go to a river that doesn't freeze. It probably flows really fast.
Is this collect answer for this question?
What do you mean by "too much water" to freeze?
Did you read any of the sites I posted?
Bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, and oceans, have a higher heat capacity compared to land. Heat capacity refers to the amount of heat energy required to change the temperature of a substance. Water has a relatively high heat capacity because it can absorb and store a significant amount of heat energy.
During winter, the air temperature drops, causing the surface of the water to lose heat. As the temperature decreases, the water releases heat into the surrounding air. This process continues until the water temperature reaches the freezing point, which is 0°C (32°F).
However, even when the temperature reaches the freezing point, bodies of water don't instantly freeze because the process of freezing requires additional factors. To freeze, water needs to form ice crystals, which happens when the water molecules slow down and cluster together.
The presence of impurities or disturbances in the water, such as dissolved gases, salts, or movements caused by waves or currents, can disrupt the formation of ice crystals. These impurities and disturbances prevent the water molecules from arranging themselves into a stable ice crystal lattice structure.
As a result, even though the temperature may be below freezing, bodies of water remain liquid because the process of freezing is not occurring efficiently. However, when conditions become calm or the impurities settle, the water can eventually freeze, forming ice on the surface.
To summarize, bodies of water don't freeze immediately in winter due to their higher heat capacity, which leads to a slower heat loss process. Additionally, the presence of impurities and disturbances in the water can prevent efficient ice crystal formation.