Thursday, January 24, 2008

2008-01-24 Winter's Frost


These delicate ice crystals are over five centimetres long, and have pushed up the surface of the ground as they grow. These often form on exposed dirt in the shade when it is above freezing during the day, and below freezing during the night. If you walk across dirt that has these crystals underneath them, you leave white footprints.

Does anyone know what the technical name for this type of frost is? I've been told that it is hoar frost, but this frost forms under the surface of the ground, and thus is unlikely to be the product of sublimation.

No comments: