Ice Crystals on Window Glass

February 03, 2006

Icecrystals

Provided and copyright by: Sari Yli-Koivisto
Summary authors & editors: Sari Yli-Koivisto

The photo above showing feathery ice crystals etched on glass was taken from Finland, Kirkkonummi on January 22, 2006. These delicate crystals were formed when water vapor from the humid indoor air condensed on the very cold window glass -- the outdoor temperature was about -20°C (about - 4 F). Once the air temperature drops lower than about -10 C (15 F), vapor will condense on solid objects as hoar frost. Though the window glass looks clean and unblemished, it probably has some scratches or tensions, which resulted in these ice crystal trails -- the width of the ice trails is 5 mm maximum.

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