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The Snow Crystal Gallery

All images are posted with the permission of Kenneth G. Libbrecht

<< 8/12 < > Growth at -2 C. At -2 degrees Celsius snow crystal growth becomes plate-like, although the growth rates are not as high as at -15 C. Thus the plates are smaller, and they show some qualitative differences. Larger crystals, which grew at the highest supersaturation levels, show distinctive rounded extensions. These reflect the roughening transition that occurs near the melting point — the ice surface becomes microscopically rough, so the crystal boundaries are no longer faceted.

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