20 March, 2002
Of Ice and Men
(...a winter classic)
Snow crystals, whether they are on a mountain peak or on a sheet of lake
ice, go through an evolution process. This change over time results from the
melting, evaporating, and re-freezing of water. The delicate points on a
snowflake gradually disappear, and water vaopr condenses close to the center
of the crystal. This process causes the crystal to increase in density. It
also becomes smaller and rounder.
QUESTION: What happens to the insulating nature of snow as it goes through
this metamorphosis? Will heat flow out of the lake more slowly or more
rapidly?
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The focus of my visit to Fairbanks! _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com
![](../Images/porter/porter_320_sparkling_snow.jpg)
Snow crystals shed some light on the subject. _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com
![](../Images/porter/porter_320_depth_hoar.jpg)
These large snow crystals tell a story of ice evolution. _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com
![](../Images/porter/porter_320_dinosaur.jpg)
Ice sculptures also evolve. This dinosaur has been exposed to sunny, springlike conditions for the past week. It is about to become extinct. _________________________________________________________________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx
![](../Images/porter/porter_320_ice_block.jpg)
Lake ice without the lake. (Send your prediction of this year's final "ice off" date to me at alaskamap@hotmail.com . The winner will receive a prize! _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com
![](../Images/porter/porter_320_ice_block2.jpg)
Notice the fractures within the ice. _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com
![](../Images/porter/porter_320_quartz.jpg)
Quartz crystals or ice?? _________________________________________________________________ Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com
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Jazzy ice _________________________________________________________________ Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com
![](../Images/porter/porter_320_sperm_egg.jpg)
What a concept...conception! _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.
![](../Images/porter/porter_320_iceclimb_best.jpg)
A climber? Or a sculptor biting off more than he can chew?? _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.
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