Snowflakes: Blog/Social Media Challenge 2021

Did you know that a snowflake is a SINGLE ice crystal? Once it achieves a sufficient size and may have amalgamated with others will then fall through the earth’s atmosphere as snow.

Unique

One of my favourite attributes of the snowflake is it’s ABSOLUTE UNIQUENESS. No two are alike ever. It is known as the symbol of individuality. They are delicate and short-lived. To view images of snowflakes and their uniqueness take a look at images by Snowflake Bentley here.

Studies of Snowflakes by Wilson Bentley “The Snowflake Man”
Monthly Weather Review 1902

How many types are there?

There are thirty five types of snowflakes. They are grouped into plates, stellar cyrstals, columns, needles, spatial dendrites, capped columns and irregular forms.

Colour?

Ice by itself is clear, however snow appears white in colour due to diffuse reflection of the whole spectrum of light. The scattering of light by these small crystal facets gives the appearace of white.

Photo of a snowflake in 1890 by Wilson A. Bentley

Who is Snowflake Bentley?

Wilson Alwyn Bentley (9 February 1865 – 23 December 1931) was an American meterorologist and photographer, who was the first person to take detailed photographs of snowflakes and record their features. Read more about this remarkable man here: Wilson A. Bentley (1865 – 1931)

“Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated., When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind.”
Wilson Alwyn Bentley 1925

—oOo—