Snow Crystal Symmetry

December 25, 2012

Snowcryssymm21s

Snowcrystalsymetry22s

Scanning Electron Microscope Operator: Eric Erbe
Summary Authors: Bill Wergin; Jim Foster

December 2012 Viewer's Choice The above images show the extraordinary symmetry of snow crystals even at high magnification. At top is a single stellar snow crystal with sector-like extensions that’s been magnified approximately 100 times (100X) using a Scanning Electron Microscope. One arm has been broken off during descent through the lower atmosphere. The second image shows a higher magnification view of two lower arms of the same snow crystal, and the third image shows the bottom-most arm now magnified over 900X. Note that the parallel groove and pit structures still exhibit a high degree of symmetry even at nearly 2,000X (bottom image). Images taken at the Scanning Electron Microscopy Lab of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland.

[4/18] 
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the staff of the Earth Science Picture of the Day
Martin Richard, Erin Carver, Stu Witmer, Jim Foster