It is indeed a quiet joy and delight to stand in the silence of a gentle snowfall with the world hushed and gray around you. This is just an imagination to a woman who has never felt it the entire living yet so optimistic someday she will see them falling. How much happiness it would be for someone who has not touched those crystals from heaven if the opportunity allows her to encounter so? Can you draw from your imagination what if snow falls were candy bars, milkshakes, and chocolate kisses? Imagine holding out mitten hands and a delicate bit of lace lands there only to disappear or the feeling of a very cold weather keeping you tucked in your thick coat. I am so much interested to learn about snowfall and what comprises it-snowflakes.
I made a research about them, read some blogs to know more and learned how they are wonderfully made by God too.
I made a research about them, read some blogs to know more and learned how they are wonderfully made by God too.
How are all these unique and lovely snowflakes formed? Strange as it may seem, the creation of a clean, white snowflake starts with a tiny speck of dust or dirt that has been carried up into the atmosphere by the wind. Ice collects around the soil speck and a snow crystal is formed. Snow crystals later combine to make snowflakes. Also imagine that with all the snow that falls, no two snowflakes are exactly alike.
Snow crystals form in four basic shapes; a long needle, a long, hollow, six-sided prism, a thin, flat, six-sided plate and a complex six-pointed star.
The shape of the crystal is determined by temperature.
Plates and Stars
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| Credit: Courtesy SnowCrystals.com article: The Different Types of Snowflakes |
At the warmest temperatures, generally above 28F (-2C), formation of snowflakes comes in the form of plates and stars. The types are directly related to the amount of moisture in the air. With high moisture content, stars form, which are flat objects that come in the shape that is most stereotypically associated with snowflakes.
As the moisture content in the air decreases, the snowflake loses its capability to form into more complex shapes, and returns to a more basic form called a plate. Typically these come in basic shapes which are quite plain.
Needles and Prisms
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| Credit: Courtesy SnowCrystals.com article: The Different Types of Snowflakes |
When the temperature falls below 28F (-2C) through about 14F (-10C), needles and prisms are the most predominant kind of snowflake. Again, moisture content decides the type of flake. At higher levels of moisture, the snow tends to form into long narrow needle-like structures.
This type can be the most dangerous in mountain areas. Needles tend to produce a dense, stiff snow pack which can produce an avalanche under the right conditions," he says.
At lower moisture levels, these needles become more column and prism-like. Hollow columns form at moderate moisture levels, becoming solid prisms in drier conditions.
Dendrites: The Most Complex Snowflake
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| Credit: Courtesy SnowCrystals.com article: The Different Types of Snowflakes |
Temperatures around 5F (-15C) with a high moisture level will produce some of the most beautiful snowflakes of all: the dendrite. This can be almost thought of as a star snowflake on steroids: unlike its flat cousin it comes in three dimensions.
The arms will radiate out from a central point, and take on elaborate shapes. Dendrites are the stereotypical snowflake, and are large enough to be seen by the naked eye. These types of snowflakes also make for the best powder for snow sports -- however cause of the cold temperatures needed it is rare to see in many areas other than the most mountainous ski resorts.
As moisture content drops, dendrites become flat once again, taking a more plate like shape, and become smaller.
Snow at the Coldest of Temperatures and Other Shapes
In below zero weather (-20C), moisture is at a premium. Thus, the capability to form complex snowflake formations is all but gone. At these temperatures, columns will appear when moisture content is high, with plates in drier conditions.
Besides the types discussed, there are a few other common types of snowflakes. Capped columns occur when a flake begins as a column and passes through an area of the atmosphere suitable for plate formation, while graupel forms when snowflakes come in contact with tiny water droplets come in contact and freeze to snowflakes, giving it the appearance of a tiny snowball.
These tiny snow crystals grow and grow and as they do so they become heavier, causing them to fall towards Earth. All those falling snow crystals can’t help but bump into each other and that’s how snowflakes are formed. Each snowflake is made of up of anywhere from 2 to 200 separate snow crystals that have joined together in their tumble through the clouds!
While snowflakes can share many similarities like the number of their sides, their size and basic shape, no two are identical. Each and every snowflake is a beautiful and unique gift of nature.
Is it similar to rain that hides the tears when those run down my cheeks whenever my eyes can no longer suppress them?
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