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2D Water Density Anomaly — Lake Stratification & Ice Floating Simulator

2D side-view lake cross-section: the real water density-vs-temperature curve (peak density at 4 degC, ice ~9% less dense than liquid) drives genuine thermal stratification, convective turnover and ice-sheet growth as ambient temperature changes through the seasons, plus floating ice blocks at the physically correct buoyancy draft.

Everyday Physics2DModerate60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted💧 Water ❄️ Ice & Cold ⇄ 3D version

This 2D companion to the 3D "Why Ice Floats" molecular laboratory swaps the hexagonal-lattice view for the macroscopic consequence of the same density anomaly: a lake cross-section made of many horizontal water layers, each governed by the real density-vs-temperature curve (peak density at 4°C, both colder and warmer water less dense, ice ~9% less dense than liquid at 0°C). Layers whose computed density is out of order convectively mix, driving genuine seasonal turnover and winter stratification, and every floating ice block — including the lake's own ice sheet — sits at the buoyancy draft that the real density ratio demands, never a fixed decorative height.

⚙ Under the hood

2D side-view lake cross-section driven by the real water density-vs-temperature curve: peak density at 4°C, water genuinely less dense both above and below that point, and ice ~9% less dense than liquid water at 0°C. Layers convectively turn over whenever their computed density is out of order, reproducing real seasonal lake stratification, and floating ice blocks sit at the physically correct buoyancy draft as ambient temperature changes.

Water Density AnomalyLake StratificationThermal TurnoverBuoyancyIce Floating4 Degrees CelsiusFluid Physics

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install