Light micrograph of a snow crystal showing hexagonal centre ( across) from which 6 branches form as the crystal grows. Each crystal is made up fr
Light micrograph of a snow crystal showing hexagonal centre ( across) from which 6 branches form as the crystal grows. Each crystal is made up from water molecules, arranged with 2 hydrogen atoms making an angle of 105 degrees with 1 oxygen atom. The fixed shape of the water molecule means they can assume a stable crystal arrangement only when arranged as a 6-branched figure. Despite essential hexagonal similarity no two snowflakes are identical because their growth is influenced by temperature, humidity, air currents etc. & these conditions are never identical. Magnification: x60 (35mm size).
Size: 3780px × 2483px
Photo credit: © CLAUDE NURIDSANY & MARIE PERENNOU/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: climate, cold, crystal, frozen, meteorology, snow, snowflake, weather, winter
