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Snowcrystal 2018.2.07a

Posted by Riley Whitney ,
North Country explorer from Madison, WI
February 7, 2018

The snow crystal (Snowcrystal 2018.2.07a) was collected on February 7, 2018 at 11 am. Using Magano and Lee (1996) this snowflake is classified as P1c, which is a snow crystal with broad branches. The growth of the snow crystal (and its resultant morphology) was controlled by weather conditions during its decent in the atmosphere. The following atmospheric conditions are recorded by this snow crystal: a) snow crystal with broad branches, formed due to b) transitional thermal limits of -15 degrees Celsius to -13 degrees Celsius and c) a temperature of approximately -15 degrees Celsius just below the point of water saturation. Basically, this snow crystal records the chaotic series of events from deposition of water vapor on a nucleus (e.g., dust particle) to collection. The greater mass of this snow crystal can be attributed to its broad branches, an indicator of higher humidity environments. Additionally, the symmetry of this snow crystal's branches indicate that the crystal was formed in an environment with very stable conditions within the previously deduced range of temperatures and humidities.

Snowcrystal 2018.2.07a