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Mammoth Snowflakes vs. Tiny Crystals: A Size Showdown
Even though we’re seeing less and less snow around the world, it’s worth taking a closer look at it. Even virtually. Single snow crystals fascinate both scientists and artists for good reason. After all, they’re an example of nature’s exceptionally aesthetic work. Snowflakes most commonly exhibit a six-fold symmetry. They’re small, although true record-breakers exist — and not just in one direction.
Snowflakes and snow crystals — which are bigger?
As mentioned in the Guinness World Records, during a fierce winter storm in January 1887 over the Clark Fork Valley, near Matt Coleman’s ranch close to Missoula, Montana, USA, snowflakes were observed larger than “milk pans,” measuring up to 38 cm in width.
It’s important to note the distinction discussed in Dr. Kenneth Libbrecht’s research. Throughout his career, this scientist has dedicated himself to answering why snow crystals take on various shapes. As he points out, snow crystals are not the same as snowflakes.
Winter’s atmosphere under scrutiny
The thing is, single snow crystals are tiny. It’s only when they fall from the sky that they combine to form larger structures. Thus, what we usually see outside our windows are often larger…
