(Weak connection to the "Too cold..:" thread)

I was looking for a snow christal morphology diagram in the net and
found this one: http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/s...ogydiagram.jpg
to show that even though it isn't too cold for snow it can get too
cold for dendrites ("the snowflake-shaped snowflakes"). Another thing
is that at -35C the air contains very little humidity so very heavy
snowfall is not possible.

Elsewhere at the caltech site they say:
"Q: Are snow crystals the same as frozen raindrops? A: No. Sometimes
raindrops do freeze as they fall, but this is called sleet. Sleet
particles don't have any of the elaborate patterns found in snow
crystals. Snow crystals form when water vapor condenses directly into
ice, which happens in the clouds. The beautiful snow crystal patterns
form as the crystal grows."

Is this a difference between Queen's English and Bush English ? I've
seen some people in this ng referrring to synop code 68 as "sleet" ?

otherwise, I recommend browsing the caltech site so you get at least
a virtual white chritmas... (Here at Vantaa we have -14C and it's
snowing again.)

Best,
Elena

Another thing
is that at -35C the air contains very little humidity so very heavy
snowfall is not possible.

The snow may well have been formed at temperatures much closer to 0°C by
the forced ascent of "warm" air and could well be heavy, even if the air it
falls through is much colder.

Is this a difference between Queen's English and Bush English ? I've
seen some people in this ng referrring to synop code 68 as "sleet" ?


"Sleet" in Britain is a mixture of rain and snow, i.e. partially melted
snow. It's very common. Don't use Bush English - you'll go mad and could get
detainified under some Mental Healthitude Act or other.

Tudor Hughes, Warlingham, Surrey.