Stellar snowflakes

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

By Christie Koriakin

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-Generally, we take the attitude, “bigger is better” when it comes to snow in Jackson. Bigger snowpack, more flakes and deeper powder, please! But Kenneth Libbrecht will turn your attention to the smaller side of snow.

 If you take a micro view of a fresh snowfall, you’ll see that the snowpack is made up of thousands of tiny ice sculptures.

“The best skiing snowflake is the stellar dendrite,” Libbrecht said. “It creates a light, low density snow.”

Stellar dendrites, a beautiful tree-like crystal with branches and side branches, are just one of the many types of stunningly complex snow crystals that Libbrecht, Professor of Physics and the Physics Department Chair at the California Institute of Technology, has been studying and photographing for more than 10 years.

Libbrecht uses snowflakes as a case study of the molecular dynamics of crystal growth. It’s a science, which can have all sorts of practical applications such as manufacturing computer chips, but Libbrecht’s fascination is one of pure science.
“I grew up in North Dakota,” said Libbrecht “so there was snow all around me, but until I started studying, I never noticed all the beautiful patterns that nature was producing. I invite everyone to take a look at the beauty around them.”

Libbrecht’s lecture The Secret Life of a Snowflake, will take place at 7 p.m., Thursday, at Teton County Library’s Ordway Auditorium. Free, but donations are welcome. 733-2164, www.snowcrystals.com.
PERMALINK:
Stellar snowflakes | Planet JH News Article: General News

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