How a Dock Bubbler Works

 

The Winter-time natural protection of marine life is the basis for Dockbubblers™ systems.  While the solid form of elements is normally the densest (heaviest), this is fortunately not the case for water. Ice being less dense than liquid water allows it to form on the surface and provide an insulating layer from the often drastically colder weather above.

The anomaly of water continues with a density-temperature inversion occurring within a narrow temperature band around the freezing point. With surface ice and near surface temperatures at 32°F or 0° C, the water temperature at lake bottom will normally be at 39° F (4° C), as shown in the diagrams.

Our Dockbubblers™ air lines, weighted to lie on or close to bottom bring this warmer water up along with the bubbles. The bubbling motion also adding movement to the water and further aids ice prevention and removal. True bubblers, unlike the agitators, are the only commercial method for utilizing this naturally forming warmer water from the lake bottom. De-icing agitators, with the high energy consuming motors and propellers, provide plenty of motion, but hang down only a few feet under the dock and aren’t designed to bring the warmer bottom water to the surface.

Sources and other references:

Why does ice form on the top of a lake? | Science Questions with Surprising Answers (wtamu.edu)

https://www.ausableriver.org/blog/look-under-ice-winter-lake-ecology