Tales from the Tifft – Snowflakes in Focus at Frosty Fun Festival

By Andrew Stadler, Education Assistant, Tifft Nature Preserve

 

Have you ever looked at a snowflake up close and wondered how such an intricate pattern can form on such a small bit if frozen water? From afar, we often forget that snowflakes are as complex as they are. It is easy to look at snowfall and say, “Oh, it’s just frozen water particles falling to the ground,” but it’s that and oh so much more!  

A snowflake’s life starts high in the Earth’s atmosphere when a tiny dust or pollen particle comes in contact with water vapor. The water covers the particle, and when the temperature drops to freezing (32° F or 0° C) or colder, the water forms into an ice crystal. Numerous factors affect how a snowflake forms including temperature, air currents, humidity, and other particles in the air. When a snowflake is formed it is heavier than the air, so it begins to fall. As it falls, it passes through humid air and more water vapor freezes onto the ice crystal, which makes the snowflake grow larger. However, as the snowflake gets knocked around by the air currents along its fall down, it collides into other snowflakes; thus changing its shape many times.

So if you’ve ever looked at a snowflake up close, you may have noticed that there are always six sides or six arms (or multiples of six, i.e. twelve) to the snowflake. This is due to how water and ice forms. Water has two hydrogen atoms per every one oxygen atom; hence H₂O. As these water molecules come together, the hydrogen atoms bond to the oxygen atoms, which gives the molecule a hexagonal lattice structure. As more and more water molecules combine, the pattern grows larger until a snowflake forms and is visible to the naked eye. The hexagonal lattice structure is what gives snow crystals their six-fold symmetry. Yet when you’re looking at snowflakes up close, you may come across some that lack six sides or arms. The reason to that is because these very fragile structures break easily when they collide into one another. Temperature changes may also affect their form.

Is it true that no two snowflakes are identical? Yes and no. Just as some humans may appear to be identical, we know that they are not. There are snowflakes that may seem very similar upon looking at them and that may have to do with where, when, and how they are formed. But on a molecular level, all snowflakes are different. No two contain the exact same number of water molecules, spin of electrons, number of hydrogen and oxygen or even the same type of particle on which they start to form. Given all of that plus all the factors that affect how a snowflake is formed, it is very unlikely that you will find two identical snowflakes.

If you’re interested in learning more about snow or just want to get out and enjoy some fun crafts and activities related to snow, come to Tifft Nature Preserve on Saturday, February 4^th, 10am-2pm, for our Frosty Fun Festival! We will be providing fun crafts such as winter songbird headbands, cut-out snowflakes, make your own animal tracks, and sun-catcher mittens! Join in our many outdoor activities during the Frosty Fun Winter Olympics! Or see if you can find the most items in the winter scavenger hunt! Can you make the coolest snow animal or drawing in the sculpture contest?! Or just join us for a guided snowshoe hike as we look at animal adaptations and tracks in winter. Crafts, activities, and hikes will still be occurring regardless of snowfall, although snowshoeing is weather permitting. Caz Coffee Cafe will be selling yummy hot beverages and we’ll also be freeze-drying some marshmallows to add to your hot chocolate! So come, shake off your cabin fever, and celebrate winter in Western New York! Non-members: $5. Buffalo Museum of Science Members Save 10%. Pre-registration is encouraged. Please call 896-5200, ext. 338, or visit www.sciencebuff.org.