I Love Science
Snowflake Science...
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Snowflakes form in the atmosphere when cold water droplets freeze onto a nucleation point; usually, a dust particle.
Depending on the temperature and humidity of the air where the snowflakes form, the resulting ice crystals will grow into a myriad of different shapes.
Wilson Bentley was reportedly the first person to capture photographs of snowflakes through the use of a microscope attached to a camera. His collection of 5,000 snowflake images introduced many people to the astounding diversity of snow crystals.
In 1951, scientists from an organization now called the International Association of Cyrospheric Sciences (IACS) devised a classification system that characterized snowflakes into ten basic shapes.
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The most intricate snowflake patterns are formed when there is moisture in the air. Snowflakes produced in drier conditions tend to have simpler shapes.
Temperature also has a large effect on snowflake formation. Those formed at temperatures below -22C (–7.6 F) consist primarily of simple crystal plates and columns whereas those formed at warmer temperatures form snowflakes with extensive branching patterns.
![]()
Snowflakes form in the atmosphere when cold water droplets freeze onto a nucleation point; usually, a dust particle.
Depending on the temperature and humidity of the air where the snowflakes form, the resulting ice crystals will grow into a myriad of different shapes.
Wilson Bentley was reportedly the first person to capture photographs of snowflakes through the use of a microscope attached to a camera. His collection of 5,000 snowflake images introduced many people to the astounding diversity of snow crystals.
In 1951, scientists from an organization now called the International Association of Cyrospheric Sciences (IACS) devised a classification system that characterized snowflakes into ten basic shapes.
The most intricate snowflake patterns are formed when there is moisture in the air. Snowflakes produced in drier conditions tend to have simpler shapes.
Temperature also has a large effect on snowflake formation. Those formed at temperatures below -22C (–7.6 F) consist primarily of simple crystal plates and columns whereas those formed at warmer temperatures form snowflakes with extensive branching patterns.
