Photographer Jonathan Nimerfroh found himself looking at a Slurpee-filled ocean. Because of the exceptionally cold temperatures that were causing it to ice, the waters of the Atlantic Ocean appeared like it. Every year, lakes ice, but freezing seas is an uncommon occurrence.
The photographer/surfer/ocean enthusiast went out to capture the magnificence of this once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. The partially-frozen waves swirled and crashed against the coast, appearing to be formed of something thicker than water. “The wind was blowing from the southwest, which would normally generate difficult or choppy conditions, not very excellent for surfing,” Jonathan says. However, because the sea’s surface was frozen slush, the wind had little effect on the form. They were the ideal slush waves.” The images below depict this strange occurrence.
They had an odd, thick substance.
His “Slurpee Waves” picture series is amazing.
The waves’ unique appearance is caused by temperature changes in the water and air.
When he took these photos, the temperature in Nantucket was 19°F.
He described the day he shot the images in “Stay Wild Magazine,” saying, “Just been extremely chilly here.” The port to the mainland is completely frozen… The day after I photographed these, the beach for 200 yards out really froze.”
Jonathan is “obsessed with the water,” and he is an ardent surfer in addition to his sea-centric photography.
Check out this video to see the Slurpee waves in action:
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