-ODULE s %XPLORE #ASE 3TUDY
4EACHER
3TUDENT.OTES
0AGE !RT OF A 3NOWFLAKE
0ICTURES OF SNOW CRYSTALS BY 'O.ORTH
#OOL 3CIENTIST %RIC %RBE OF 53$!
4SPEV,YWO]GSQ
¥ ./-!$3
/NLINE #LASSROOM %XPEDITIONS
'O.ORTH 'REENLAND #URRICULUM
-ODULE s %XPLORE #ASE 3TUDY
4EACHER
3TUDENT.OTES
0AGE 4HE 3IX "ASIC 3NOWFLAKE 3HAPES
3TAR
3TAR CRYSTALS ARE CREATED AT TEMPERATURES NEAR &AHRENHEIT AND ARE
THE SNOWFLAKES FOUND MOST OFTEN 4HEY ARE VERY DELICATE AND LARGE STARS
SUPERSTARS ARE NOT SEEN OFTEN BECAUSE THEY ARE BROKEN BY THE WIND
AND BY BUMPING INTO OTHER CRYSTALS 3OMETIMES SEVERAL STARS JOIN TO
FORM A SUPERSTAR 4HE LARGEST SNOWFLAKE ON RECORD WAS REPORTED TO BE
A WHOPPING BY INCHES )T WAS REPORTED TO HAVE FALLEN PROBABLY WITH
A THUD IN "RATSK 3IBERIA IN $ENDRITE
$ENDRITES ARE STARS WITH ATTITUDE "ASICALLY THEY ARE THREEDIMENSIONAL
STAR CRYSTALS WITH BRANCHES GROWING ON MORE THAN A SINGLE PLANE
"RANCHES OR ARMS CONNECT RANDOMLY TO A CENTRAL STRUCTURE 4HESE
COMPLEX CRITTERS FORM UNDER EXTREMELY COLD CONDITIONS TO &AHRENHEIT WHEN HIGH LEVELS OF ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE ARE PRESENT
#OLUMNS
#OLUMNS ARE CREATED WHEN THE AIR IS DRY 4HEY ARE USUALLY SMALLER THERE
ARE MORE OF THEM HIGHER DENSITY THAN STAR CRYSTALS AND THEY FORM AT
MANY TEMPERATURES
0LATE
0LATES ARE WANNABE STARS THAT ARE BASICALLY STARVING FOR WATER MOISTURE
4HEY FORM AT TEMPERATURES OF TO &AHRENHEIT WHEN THERE IS NOT
ENOUGH ATMOSPHERIC WATER VAPOR TO FORM THE DELICATE ARMS OF A CLASSIC STAR
#OLUMN CAPPED
WITH PLATES
#APPED COLUMNS ARE COMPOSITE FLAKES FORMED WHEN THE PARTICLE OF
SNOW PASSES THROUGH DIFFERENT TEMPERATURE AND MOISTURE ZONES ON
ITS JOURNEY TO THE GROUND 4HE COLUMNS FORM FIRST USUALLY AT HIGHER
AND DRYER REGIONS OF A CLOUD AND COMBINE WITH STAR FLAKES AS THEY FALL
THROUGH LOWER AND WETTER CLOUD ELEVATIONS
.EEDLES
.EEDLES ARE FORMED AT THE UPPER END OF THE TEMPERATURE RANGE USUALLY
WHEN GROUND TEMPERATURES ARE AT OR NEAR THE FREEZING POINT .EEDLES
TEND TO PRODUCE A DENSE STIFF SNOWPACK WHICH CAN PRODUCE AN AVALANCHE
UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS
4SPEV,YWO]GSQ
¥ ./-!$3
/NLINE #LASSROOM %XPEDITIONS
'O.ORTH 'REENLAND #URRICULUM