Everyone loves a good snowflake. But how do they form in the sky?
_Snowflakes start as tiny ice crystals in the atmosphere. These crystals form when water vapor freezes around a nucleus, which can be a dust particle or a tiny piece of ice. As the water vapor freezes, it creates tiny ice crystals that look like little hexagonal plates._
These plates are flat because they grow in all directions at the same time. As the plates grow, they can bump into other crystals and stick together. This process is called aggregation.
When snowflakes aggregate, they create all sorts of different shapes. The most common shape is a six-pointed star, but snowflakes can also be shaped like needles, columns, or even plates.
The shape of a snowflake is determined by the conditions in the atmosphere when it forms. The size of the water droplets, the temperature, and the amount of moisture in the air all play a role.
Snowflakes are truly a work of art. Each one is unique and different. The next time you see a snowflake, take a close look at it and appreciate its beauty.
* Snowflakes are made up of 95% air and 5% water.
* The largest snowflakes ever recorded were over 15 inches wide.
* Snowflakes can fall at speeds of up to 10 miles per hour.
* Snowflakes are always symmetrical.
* No two snowflakes are exactly alike.
So the next time you see a snowflake, take a moment to appreciate its beauty and uniqueness. It is a true work of art.
