====== Snowflake formation ======

Snowflakes mostly form in two different types - plate-like and column-like - but there are many others, including needle-like, prism-like and star-like etc.. Although the many types have been extensively documented, and have been found to be temperature dependent (e.g. large stellar types only grow in a narrow temperature range around -15C) the molecular physics driving the different shape formations at different temperatures is poorly understood.

>__Understanding the ice/vapor attachment kinetics from molecular first principles is far beyond the state-of-the-art in many-body molecular physics,__ including modern molecular-dynamics simulations, so we must rely on experimental measurements of snow-crystal growth rates to guide the discussion. \\ \\ Source : [[https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1910/1910.09067.pdf|A Quantitative Physical Model of the Snowflake Morphology Diagram]]{{:oa_padlock_grn.png?16&nolink|open access}} Kenneth G.Libbrecht

For extensive technical details, see the work of snowflake investigator [[https://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/|Professor Kenneth G. Libbrecht,]] of the Department of Physics, Caltech, who has published an open-access monograph book on the subject : [[https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1910/1910.06389.pdf|Snow Crystals]] {{:oa_padlock_grn.png?16&nolink|Open Access}} Princeton University Press, (544 pages).

>Even now, well into the 21st century, our fundamental understanding of why snow crystals grow into the rich variety of structures we see falling from the clouds is remarkably primitive."

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Also see : [[content:chemistry:crystallization]] and [[content:earth_sciences:cloud_ice_formation]]

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