snow crystals
Winter's tiny hexagons
Snow crystals are individual ice formations that develop when water vapor freezes in clouds.
Each crystal grows into a symmetrical, six-sided structure—the classic snowflake shape—though the exact pattern varies with temperature and humidity.
Under the microscope, every snow crystal revealed unique geometry.
What falls as snow is usually clumps of many crystals stuck together.
- snowflakesFrozen precipitation crystals
- iceWater's solid form
- frostThin ice coating
- hexagonalSix-edged polygon's form
- dendritesNeuron's signal-receiving projections
flurry · blizzard · delicate · frozen · intricate · symmetry · winter · winter wonderland · cold · lattice · microscope · unique · under the microscope · feathery · powder · needles · prisms · stellate
- winter weatherblizzards, blizzard, snowstorm, snowstorms, winter storms
- Arctic Phenomenaaurora borealis, Northern Lights, northern lights, polar night, midnight sun
- snow sciencesnowpack, core samples, core sampling, field surveys, accumulation
- snowpacksnowpack, stratigraphy, facets, firn, densification
- condensationcondensation, dew, fog, steam, frost
snow crystalshail
Icy precipitation pellets
sleet · graupel · ice pellets · freezing rain · hailstones
snow crystalsrain
Water dropping from clouds
raindrops · drizzle · water droplets · mist · downpour
snow crystalswater vapor
H₂O in gaseous state
steam · evaporation · meltwater · thaw · summer heat
snow, snowy, snows, snowed, snowing, snowier, snowiest, snowfall, snowflake