Formation: Snow forms when water vapor in the air condenses directly into ice crystals, usually in clouds with temperatures below freezing.
Snowflake Structure: Each snowflake is a unique ice crystal, and their intricate shapes result from variations in temperature and humidity as they fall through the atmosphere.
Types of Snowflakes: Snowflakes can have diverse structures, including dendrites, plates, columns, and needles, influenced by atmospheric conditions during formation.
Sleet: Sleet occurs when raindrops freeze before reaching the ground, forming small ice pellets.
Freezing Rain: Freezing rain results from rain that freezes upon contact with surfaces, creating a coating of ice.
Hail Formation: Hail forms in severe thunderstorms when updrafts carry raindrops into freezing upper layers, causing layers of ice to accumulate and form hailstones.
Glaciers: Large masses of ice formed from the accumulation and compaction of snow over long periods, glaciers shape landscapes through their movement.
Ice Crystals: Beyond snowflakes, various forms of ice crystals, such as diamond dust and halos, can occur in cold, clear conditions, contributing to optical phenomena in the atmosphere.