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12/6/2020 0 Comments the science of snowflakes It is the most wonderful time of the year! December has started with its usual gusto, with so many things to look forward to - family, holidays, and more! We are still continuing our traditions, whether that be ice skating, hot cocoa, putting up a Christmas tree, or setting up outdoor lights. I, for one, am most excited for snow. Though it has been a while since we have had snow in December or had a white Christmas, I still find myself checking the forecast every day! Snow makes everything magical, transporting you to a winter wonderland where everything is still and soft. It seems as if the white landscape before you holds countless adventures, beckoning you to embark upon them. And this is where most people stop. They see the piles of snow before them and comment on how beautiful it is. They jump onto the snow and make snow angels or snowmen. This is all well and good, but what if I told you there was something even cooler - see what I did there - than snow? You probably would not believe me, right? Well, let me share the awesome science behind snow!
First, a little bit of backstory is in order. Wilson Bentley was an American meteorologist born in the small town of Jericho, Vermont. And if you know anything about Vermont, it is highly unlikely that they have a shortage of snow during the winter months! Vermont is known for its beautiful snow-capped peaks, natural beauty, and magical winter months, and like everyone else, Wilson Bentley loved it. He loved snow so much that he took it upon himself to take detailed photographs of snowflakes, and being the first to do so, earning him the nickname “Snowflake Bentley”. A few of his photographs are pictured below. Over his lifetime, he managed to take 5,000 pictures of snowflakes, leading him to the conclusion that no two snowflakes are alike. Throughout his career, every single snowflake he documented was completely unique. How can that be, you ask? Snowflakes begin to form when extremely cold water droplets freeze onto particles in the sky, like pollen or dust, creating ice crystals. As these fall to the ground, water vapor freezes onto the primary crystal, building new crystals – which we know as the six arms of the snowflake. Each individual snowflakes follow slightly different paths and conditions on their way to the ground, causing changes in their shape and formation. The slightly different changes like collisions with other snowflakes, changes in temperature and humidity, or wind patterns all play a role in the final appearance of snowflakes that we see when they reach us. Isn’t this amazing? Every single snowflake endured different conditions on their way to the ground, causing them to be unique from the billions and billions of others. The snowflake on your tongue cannot be found anywhere else. So next time you go to catch snowflakes, remember that it is unlike any other!
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