Snowflake is a wonder creature; it looks different from other snow. Snowflakes are ice-crystals, a particular form of water ice . Ice-crystals are appear as clear glass but more fragile. Snowflakes form in clouds, starts as water vapor, when the temperature falls down (0° C) or colder, this water vapor changes from its gas to liquid then form liquid into ice. Ice-crystals are formed in millions and millions of shapes and patterns. Several factors affect snowflake formation, depending on how high up they are formed. 32-25° F – Thin hexagonal plates crystals are shaped in the high clouds.25-21° F – Needles or flat six-sided crystals are shaped in the middle layer of clouds.21-14° F – Hollow columns , 14-10° F – Sector plates and 10-3° F – Dendrites of six-sided shapes are formed in low clouds and they are of a wide variety.
Snowfall quantity requires cold weather. Not just a degree or two below freezing, but some serious cold.
Branching of the snowflake (dendrites) with sharper crystal tips are produced on colder temperatures. Any ice-crystal to grow needs a low temperature of 5 degrees F. In warmer temperatures, the ice-crystals grow in the form of a ball because it grows slower and smoother.
These pictures on this post was posted from “SnowCrystals.com,lensart.ru & twistedsifter.com” To see some beautiful snowflakes go where it snows often as in large lakes are often good sites for observing large snow crystals. Antarctica, and the South Pole are an observing spot for very unique snow crystal .
Snow crystals are small, nearly perfect, hexagonal prisms.. If you want to see some beautiful snowflakes, see the photos below:
