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Snow Monsters, Juhyou, Frost-covered Trees
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Frost flowers occur when there is a freezing weather condition but the ground is not already frozen. The water contained in the plant stem expands and causes long cracks along the stem. Water, via capillary action, goes out from the cracks and freezes on contact with the air. Also the frost can literally look like a flower, even a dead flower from the previous summer. These are rare and wonderful to see as they are very delicate and last usually less than a day. Due to their fleeting nature, they are difficult to find to photograph and the locations of these Frost Flowers are elusive as terrain plays a big part in their formation as well.
• Window frost
Window frost (also called fern frost) forms when a glass pane is exposed to very cold air on the outside and moderately moist air on the inside. If the pane is not a good insulator (such as a single pane window), water vapour condenses on the glass forming patterns. With very low temperatures outside frost can appear on the bottom of the window even with double pane energy efficient windows, due to air convection between two panes of glass. The bottom part of the glazing unit is always colder than the top part. The glass surface influences the shape of crystals, so imperfections, scratches or dust can modify the way ice nucleates. If the indoor air is very humid, rather than moderately so, water will first condense in small droplets and then freeze into clear ice.
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