snow crystal
Winter's tiny gem
A snow crystal is an individual ice crystal formed in clouds when water vapor freezes around a tiny particle.
Each develops a hexagonal structure, though the intricate branching patterns vary with temperature and humidity.
Snow crystal is the technical term for what's popularly called a snowflake, though a snowflake may consist of multiple crystals clumped together.
- nucleationInitial cluster formation
- hexagonSix-sided closed figure
- cloudAtmospheric water vapor mass
- rimingMatching end sounds
- frozen precipitationIce falling from sky
symmetry · supercooling · condensation · branching · plate · winter festivals · needle · holiday decorations · Bentley · deposition · ice water · dendrite · meteorology · climatology · lattice · sublimation · ice · winter storm
- crystalsquartz, amethyst, diamond, citrine, rose quartz
- ice formshoarfrost, rime, frost flower, diamond dust, hail
snow crystalhailstone
Frozen precipitation sphere
sleet · hail · graupel · freezing rain · frost
snow crystalwater vapor
H₂O in gaseous state
steam · raindrop · liquid water · mist · dew
snow, crystal, snows, snowed, snowing, snowy, snowier, snowiest, snowfall