Book 30, Question 32
Does snow on a frozen pond change what happens underneath?
Yes.
Snow acts like a blanket, keeping the ice from getting colder and slowing its growth. A thick snow cover also blocks sunlight, so plants and algae under the ice make less oxygen. Wind can blow areas clear, leaving patches of bare, thin ice. In spring, snow on the ice melts and soaks into it, turning the surface slushy.