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For other uses, see Snowflake (disambiguation).
Macro photography of a natural snowflake

A snowflake is a single ice crystal that is large enough to fall through the Earth's atmosphere as snow.[1][2][3] Snow appears white in color despite being made of clear ice. This is because the many small crystal facets of the snowflakes scatter the sunlight between them.[4]

Each flake begins by forming around a tiny particle, called its nucleus, accumulating water droplets, which freeze and slowly form a crystal. Complex shapes emerge as the flake moves through differing temperature and humidity zones in the atmosphere, and possibly combines with other snowflakes. Because of this, snowflakes tend to look very different from one another. However, they may be categorized in eight broad classifications and at least 80 individual variants. The main constituent shapes for ice crystals, from which combinations may occur, are needle, column, plate, and rime.

Formation

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See also: Snow science
Freshly fallen snowflakes

Snowflakes nucleate around mineral or organic particles in moisture-saturated, subfreezing air masses. They grow by net accretion to the incipient crystals in hexagonal formations. The cohesive forces are primarily electrostatic.

Nucleus

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In warmer clouds, an aerosol particle or "ice nucleus" must be present in (or in contact with) the droplet to act as a nucleus. The particles that make ice nuclei are very rare compared to nuclei upon which liquid cloud droplets form; however, it is not understood what makes them efficient. Clays, desert dust, and biological particles may be effective,[5] although to what extent is unclear. Artificial nuclei include particles of silver iodide and dry ice, and these are used to stimulate precipitation in cloud seeding.[6] Experiments show that "homogeneous" nucleation of cloud droplets only occurs at temperatures lower than −35 °C (−31 °F).[7]

Growth

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Scanning electron microscope image of rime frost on both ends of a capped column snowflake

Once a water droplet has frozen as an ice nucleus, it grows in a supersaturated environment—wherein liquid moisture coexists with ice beyond its equilibrium point at temperatures below freezing. The droplet then grows by deposition of water molecules in the air (vapor) onto the ice crystal surface where they are collected. Because water droplets are so much more numerous than the ice crystals due to their sheer abundance, the crystals are able to grow to hundreds of micrometers or millimeters in size at the expense of the water droplets. This process is known as the Wegener–Bergeron–Findeisen process.

The corresponding depletion of water vapor causes the droplets to evaporate, meaning that the ice crystals grow at the droplets' expense. These large crystals are an efficient source of precipitation, since they fall through the atmosphere due to their mass, and may collide and stick together in clusters, or aggregates. These aggregates are usually the type of ice particle that falls to the ground.[8]

Guinness World Records lists the world's largest aggregated snowflakes as those of January 1887 at Fort Keogh, Montana, which were claimed to be 15 inches (38 cm) wide—well outside the normally documented range of aggregated flakes of three or four inches in width. Single crystals the size of a dime (17.91 mm in diameter) have been observed.[3] Snowflakes encapsulated in rime form balls known as graupel.

Appearance

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Color

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Snow crystals in strong direct sunlight act like small prisms.

Although ice by itself is clear, snow usually appears white in color due to diffuse reflection of the whole spectrum of light by the scattering of light by the small crystal facets of the snowflakes of which it is comprised.[4]

Shape

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The shape of the snowflake is determined broadly by the temperature and humidity at which it is formed.[8] Rarely, at a temperature of around −2 °C (28 °F), snowflakes can form in threefold symmetry — triangular snowflakes.[9] Most snow particles are irregular in form, despite their common depiction as symmetrical. It is unlikely that any two snowflakes are alike due to the estimated 1019 (10 quintillion) water molecules which make up a typical snowflake,[10] which grow at different rates and in different patterns depending on the changing temperature and humidity within the atmosphere that the snowflake falls through on its way to the ground.[11] Snowflakes that look identical, but may vary at the molecular level, have been grown under controlled conditions.[12]

Although snowflakes are never perfectly symmetrical, the growth of a non-aggregated snowflake often approximates six-fold radial symmetry, arising from the hexagonal crystalline structure of ice.[13] At that stage, the snowflake has the shape of a minute hexagon. The six "arms" of the snowflake, or dendrites, then grow independently from each of the corners of the hexagon, while either side of each arm grows independently.

The microenvironment in which the snowflake grows changes dynamically as the snowflake falls through the cloud and tiny changes in temperature and humidity affect the way in which water molecules attach to the snowflake. Since the micro-environment (and its changes) are very nearly identical around the snowflake, each arm tends to grow in nearly the same way. However, being in the same micro-environment does not guarantee that each arm grows the same; indeed, for some crystal forms it does not because the underlying crystal growth mechanism also affects how fast each surface region of a crystal grows.[14]

Empirical studies suggest less than 0.1% of snowflakes exhibit the ideal six-fold symmetric shape.[15] Very occasionally twelve branched snowflakes are observed; they maintain the six-fold symmetry.[16]

Classification

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See also: Classifications of snow § Snow crystal classification
An early classification of snowflakes by Israel Perkins Warren[17]

Snowflakes form in a wide variety of intricate shapes, leading to the notion that "no two are alike". Although nearly-identical snowflakes have been made in laboratory, they are very unlikely to be found in nature.[18][10][19][20] Initial attempts to find identical snowflakes by photographing thousands of them with a microscope from 1885 onward by Wilson Alwyn Bentley found the wide variety of snowflakes we know about today.

Ukichiro Nakaya developed a crystal morphology diagram, relating crystal shape to the temperature and moisture conditions under which they formed, which is summarized in the following table:[21]

Crystal structure morphology as a function of temperature and water saturation
Temperature range Saturation range (g/m3) Types of snow crystal

below saturation

Types of snow crystal

above saturation

0 °C (32 °F) to −3.5 °C (26 °F) 0.0 to 0.5 Solid plates Thin plates

Dendrites

−3.5 °C (26 °F) to −10 °C (14 °F) 0.5 to 1.2 Solid prisms

Hollow prisms

Hollow prisms

Needles

−10 °C (14 °F) to −22 °C (−8 °F) 1.2 to 1.2 Thin plates

Solid plates

Sectored plates

Dendrites

−22 °C (−8 °F) to −40 °C (−40 °F) 0.0 to 0.4 Thin plates

Solid plates

Columns

Prisms

Wilson Bentley micrograph showing two classes of snowflake, plate and column. Missing is an example of a needle.

The shape of a snowflake is determined primarily by the temperature and humidity at which it is formed.[8] Freezing air down to −3 °C (27 °F) promotes planar crystals (thin and flat). In colder air down to −8 °C (18 °F), the crystals form as hollow columns, prisms or needles. In air as cold as −22 °C (−8 °F), shapes become plate-like again, often with branched or dendritic features. At temperatures below −22 °C (−8 °F), the crystals become plate-like or columnar, depending on the degree of saturation. As Nakaya discovered, shape is also a function of whether the prevalent moisture is above or below saturation. Forms below the saturation line trend more towards solid and compact. Crystals formed in supersaturated air trend more towards lacy, delicate and ornate. Many more complex growth patterns also form such as side-planes, bullet-rosettes and also planar types depending on the conditions and ice nuclei.[22][23][24] If a crystal has started forming in a column growth regime, at around −5 °C (23 °F), and then falls into the warmer plate-like regime, then plate or dendritic crystals sprout at the end of the column, producing so called "capped columns".[8]

Magono and Lee devised a classification of freshly formed snow crystals that includes 80 distinct shapes. They are listed in the following main categories (with symbol):[25]

  • Needle crystal (N) – Subdivided into: Simple and combination of needles
  • Columnar crystal (C) – Subdivided into: Simple and combination of columns
  • Plate crystal (P) – Subdivided into: Regular crystal in one plane, plane crystal with extensions, crystal with irregular number of branches, crystal with 12 branches, malformed crystal, radiating assemblage of plane branches
  • Combination of columnar and plate crystals (CP) – Subdivided into: Column with plane crystal at both ends, bullet with plane crystals, plane crystal with spatial extensions at ends
  • Columnar crystal with extended side planes (S) – Subdivided into: Side planes, scalelike side planes, combination of side planes, bullets, and columns
  • Rimed crystal (R) – Subdivided into: Rimed crystal, densely rimed crystal, graupellike crystal, graupel
  • Irregular snow crystal (I) – Subdivided into: Ice particle, rimed particle, broken piece from a crystal, miscellaneous
  • Germ of snow crystal (G) – Subdivided into: Minute column, germ of skeleton form, minute hexagonal plate, minute stellar crystal, minute assemblage of plates, irregular germ

They documented each with micrographs.[26]

The International Classification for Seasonal Snow on the Ground describes snow crystal classification, once it is deposited on the ground, that include grain shape and grain size. The system also characterizes the snowpack, as the individual crystals metamorphize and coalesce.[27]

Use as a symbol

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Snowflake in the coat of arms of Lumijoki

The snowflake is often a traditional seasonal image or motif used around the Christmas season, especially in Europe and North America. As a Christian celebration, Christmas celebrates the incarnation of Jesus, who according to Christian belief atones for the sins of humanity; so, in European and North American Christmas traditions, snowflakes symbolize purity.[28][29] Snowflakes are also traditionally associated with the "White Christmas" weather that often occurs during Christmastide.[29] During this period, it is quite popular to make paper snowflakes by folding a piece of paper several times, cutting out a pattern with scissors and then unfolding it.[30][31] The Book of Isaiah refers to the atonement of sins causing them to appear "white as snow" before God (cf. Isaiah 1:18);[29]

Snowflakes are also often used as symbols representing winter or cold conditions. For example, snow tires which enhance traction during harsh winter driving conditions are labelled with a snowflake on the mountain symbol.[32] A stylized snowflake has been part of the emblem of the 1968 Winter Olympics, 1972 Winter Olympics, 1984 Winter Olympics, 1988 Winter Olympics, 1998 Winter Olympics and 2002 Winter Olympics.[33][34]

The three grades in the Order of Canada (Companion, Officer and Member, respectively)

A six pointed stylized hexagonal snowflake used for the Order of Canada (a national honor system) has come to symbolize Canadians' northern heritage and diversity.[35]

In heraldry, the snowflake is a stylized charge. Three different snowflake symbols are encoded in Unicode: "snowflake" at U+2744 (❄); "tight trifoliate snowflake" at U+2745 (❅); and "heavy chevron snowflake" at U+2746 (❆).

In the Tang Dynasty, snowflakes in poetry sometimes served as a symbol of the cosmic energy of the Tao and the Milky Way galaxy.[36]

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A selection of photographs taken by Wilson Bentley (1865–1931):

Comprehensive photographic studies of fresh snowflakes show the simple symmetry represented in Bentley's photographs to be rare.[37]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Knight, C.; Knight, N. (1973). Snow crystals. Scientific American, vol. 228, no. 1, pp. 100–107.
  2. ^ Hobbs, P.V. 1974. Ice Physics. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
  3. ^ a b Broad, William J. (2007-03-20). "Giant Snowflakes as Big as Frisbees? Could Be". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2011-11-04. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
  4. ^ a b Lawson, Jennifer E. (2001). "Chapter 5: The Colors of Light". Hands-on Science: Light, Physical Science (matter). Portage & Main Press. p. 39. ISBN 978-1-894110-63-1. Archived from the original on 2014-01-01. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  5. ^ Christner, Brent Q.; Morris, Cindy E.; Foreman, Christine M.; Cai, Rongman & Sands, David C. (2007). "Ubiquity of Biological Ice Nucleators in Snowfall". Science. 319 (5867): 1214. Bibcode:2008Sci...319.1214C. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.395.4918. doi:10.1126/science.1149757. PMID 18309078. S2CID 39398426.
  6. ^ "Meteorology Glossary: Cloud seeding". American Meteorological Society. 26 January 2012. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  7. ^ Basil John Mason (1971). Physics of Clouds. Clarendon. ISBN 978-0-19-851603-3.
  8. ^ a b c d M. Klesius (2007). "The Mystery of Snowflakes". National Geographic. 211 (1): 20. ISSN 0027-9358.
  9. ^ Libbrecht, Kenneth G. (2006-09-11). "Guide to Snowflakes". California Institute of Technology. Archived from the original on 2009-07-10. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  10. ^ a b John Roach (2007-02-13). ""No Two Snowflakes the Same" Likely True, Research Reveals". National Geographic News. Archived from the original on 2010-01-09. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
  11. ^ Libbrecht, Kenneth (Winter 2004–2005). "Snowflake Science" (PDF). American Educator. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2010-09-17. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  12. ^ Olsen, Erik (16 February 2018). "Meet the scientist who makes identical snowflakes". Quartz. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  13. ^ Nelson, Jon (15 March 2011). "The Six-fold Nature of Snow". The Story of Snow. Archived from the original on 9 December 2017.
  14. ^ Nelson, Jon (17 March 2005). "Branch Growth and Sidebranching in Snow Crystals" (PDF). Story of Snow. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 January 2015.
  15. ^ Bohannon, John (10 April 2013). "ScienceShot: The True Shape of Snowflakes". ScienceNOW. American Association for the Advancement of Science. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  16. ^ Smalley, I.J. (1963). "Symmetry of Snow Crystals". Nature. 198 (4885): 1080–1081. Bibcode:1963Natur.198.1080S. doi:10.1038/1981080b0. S2CID 4186179.
  17. ^ Warren, Israel Perkins (1863). Snowflakes: a chapter from the book of nature. Boston: American Tract Society. p. 164. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
  18. ^ Kenneth G. Libbrecht. "Identical-Twin Snowflakes".
  19. ^ Jon Nelson (2008-09-26). "Origin of diversity in falling snow" (PDF). Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 8 (18): 5669–5682. Bibcode:2008ACP.....8.5669N. doi:10.5194/acp-8-5669-2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2011-11-20. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
  20. ^ Libbrecht, Kenneth (Winter 2004–2005). "Snowflake Science" (PDF). American Educator. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-11-28. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
  21. ^ Bishop, Michael P.; Björnsson, Helgi; Haeberli, Wilfried; Oerlemans, Johannes; Shroder, John F.; Tranter, Martyn (2011). Singh, Vijay P.; Singh, Pratap; Haritashya, Umesh K. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Snow, Ice and Glaciers. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 1253. ISBN 978-90-481-2641-5.
  22. ^ Matthew Bailey; John Hallett (2004). "Growth rates and habits of ice crystals between −20 and −70C". Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences. 61 (5): 514–544. Bibcode:2004JAtS...61..514B. doi:10.1175/1520-0469(2004)061<0514:GRAHOI>2.0.CO;2.
  23. ^ Kenneth G. Libbrecht (2006-10-23). "A Snowflake Primer". California Institute of Technology. Archived from the original on 2009-07-10. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  24. ^ Kenneth G. Libbrecht (January–February 2007). "The Formation of Snow Crystals". American Scientist. 95 (1): 52–59. doi:10.1511/2007.63.52.
  25. ^ Magono, Choji; Lee, Chung Woo (1966). "Meteorological Classification of Natural Snow Crystals". Journal of the Faculty of Science. 7. 3 (4) (Geophysics ed.). Hokkaido: 321–335. hdl:2115/8672.
  26. ^ Pruppacher, H. R.; Klett, J. D. (2010-06-25). Microphysics of Clouds and Precipitation. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-306-48100-0.
  27. ^ Fierz, C.; Armstrong, R.L.; Durand, Y.; Etchevers, P.; Greene, E.; et al. (2009), The International Classification for Seasonal Snow on the Ground (PDF), IHP-VII Technical Documents in Hydrology, vol. 83, Paris: UNESCO, p. 80, archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-09-29, retrieved 2016-11-25
  28. ^ Wallach, Jennifer Jensen; Swindall, Lindsey R.; Wise, Michael D. (12 February 2016). The Routledge History of American Foodways. Routledge. p. 223. ISBN 978-1-317-97522-9.
  29. ^ a b c Mosteller, Angie (2008). Christmas. Itasca Books. p. 147. ISBN 978-1-60791-008-4.
  30. ^ for detailed instructions see for example this page Archived 2012-01-08 at the Wayback Machine
  31. ^ Other instructions and pictures of paper snowflakes Archived 2013-02-08 at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ Gilles, Tim (2004). Automotive chassis. Cengage Learning. p. 271. ISBN 978-1-4018-5630-4.
  33. ^ "More About Sapporo 1972: The Emblem". International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 2016-02-09. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  34. ^ "Olympic Games Salt Lake City 2002 – The emblem". International Olympic Committee. 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-03-25. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  35. ^ "Canadian Honours > Order of Canada > Levels and Insignia". The Governor General of Canada. 2002.
  36. ^ Schafer, Edward H. (1985). "The Snow of Mao Shan: A Cluster of Taoist Images". Journal of Chinese Religions. 13 (1): 107–126. doi:10.1179/073776985805308211. ISSN 0737-769X – via Taylor & Francis Online.
  37. ^ Pilcher, Helen (December 17, 2013). "The great white lie: What snowflakes really look like". New Scientist. Retrieved 2023-06-06.

Further reading

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