Wergin, W. P. and E. F. Erbe. Snow crystals: Capturing snow flakes for observation with the low temperature scanning electron microscope. Scanning 16:IV88-IV89. 1994

Description:

Techniques developed for observing snow and ice crystals with low-temperature scanning electron microscopy are relatively easy to use and have been found to be successful in a wide range of snow and ice environments. Samples of snow, ice and associated life forms are collected by dislodging the crystals or biota from the face of a snow pit or the surface of the snow onto copper metal sample plates containing precooled methyl cellulose solution. Within fractions of a second these plates are plunged into a reservoir of liquid nitrogen which rapidly cools them to -196°C and attaches these prefrozen materials to the plates.  Hydrologists study photographs of the grain sizes, shapes and associations in relation to passive microwave remote sensing in an effort to determine the water content of the winter snow pack. This information is critical to the determination of the nation's water supply as well as protection from flooding.

 Previous Day/Next Day

Please contact the webmaster if you would like to submit an image