Some factslaps about “Ice Flowers:”
- Formation: Ice flowers, also known as frost flowers or ice crystals, form under specific conditions. They typically appear when the air temperature is below freezing, but the water or ground beneath is not completely frozen.
- Process: As water vapor escapes from small cracks or pores in the freezing surface, it immediately crystallizes in the cold air above. This process continues, building up intricate structures over time.
- Appearance: As seen in the image, they often resemble delicate flowers or feathers made of ice. They can vary in size but are usually quite fragile and can range from a few centimeters to several inches across.
- Occurrence: While they can form on various surfaces, including plants and thin ice, the ones in this image are forming on a frozen body of water, likely a lake or fjord in Norway.
- Rarity: Ice flowers are relatively rare and ephemeral. They require very specific conditions to form and can disappear quickly when those conditions change.
- Variations: Depending on the exact conditions, ice flowers can take on various shapes and sizes, sometimes appearing more feather-like, needle-like, or as in this case, flower-like.
