In nature there are no two snowflakes that have a similar structure.
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German meteorologists managed to calculate that every year in Germany falls several quadrillion (number 24 zeros) of snowflakes.
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Snowflakes are made up of 95% air.That is why they fall very slowly, with the speed of 0.9 km / h.
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For centuries snowflakes studied, examined and photographed under a microscope.A scientist from Japan Nakaya Ukitiro first snowflakes classified by dividing them into several groups:
plate columns with tips stellate columns spatial dendrites dendrites needle irregular shapes
On what does the shape of snowflakes?Due to the different ratios of heat and moisture, uniform crystals take various forms, but retain the same symmetry.There are "crippled" snowflakes - those who were in flight turbulence, and broke down or have lost some of its branches.
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snowflake weighs about a milligram, very large snowflakes 2-3 mg.
The largest snowflake was recorded January 28, 1887 at Fort Keogh, USA.Its diameter was 15 inches (about 38 centimeters).
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April 30, 1944 in Moscow fell amazing snow, snowflakes form almost the size of the palm resembled the ostrich feathers.
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Skiers come up with its own terminology to describe the different types of snow.For example, the "bang-bang", "puree", "snow-champagne", "cauliflower", "sticky snow", "dust".
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on California mountain range called the Sierra Nevada in the summer, you can watch watermelon snow.He not only has a pink color, but different taste and aroma of watermelon.This surprising phenomenon is explained by the presence of snow algae Nivalis Chlamydomonas, which contain the pigment astaxanthin.They are food for certain microorganisms, in particular ice worms capable of living in glacier only at low temperatures (at least when heated to 5 degrees, they die and decompose).
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In mountainous and Arctic regions occurs even pink and red snow.This shade him give microorganisms that live between the crystals.
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In California in 1955, the local population had a unique opportunity to watch the snowfall green, phosphorescent different hue.People who dare to taste his snowflakes, some time later died, and those who took the snow in his hands, there was intense itching and rashes.
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in Sweden in 1969 on Christmas Day went black snow.The reason for this unusual phenomenon was bad environment.
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Snowflake while falling into the water "sings", in other words, creates a rather high-pitched sound, which is elusive to the human ear
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underfoot human snow can squeak.This occurs in the bitter cold.What he will be stronger, the higher recognizable sound.This phenomenon is explained by the fact that the ice needles break.The spectrum represented by a pair of gentle squeak isolated (not very sharp) extreme portions attributable to the range 1000-1600 Hz and 250-400 Hz.In most cases, the low frequency extremum for a couple of decibels greater high.If the temperature will rise above -6 degrees, the latter completely lost.
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snow normally melts at a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius.However, a significant amount of snow can evaporate at temperatures below zero, bypassing the transformation of the liquid phase.This process occurs when the sun's rays fall on the snow.
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In winter, the snow reflected from Earth's surface up to 90% of sunlight, directing them back into space, thus preventing the Earth to warm.
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most snow per day fell on Silver Lake, Colorado, in 1921. The snow was 190 cm. Another impressive record is 157.5 cm of snow has fallen in Georgetown, Colorado, December 4, 1913
