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?

_________________________________________________________________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx

The focus of my visit to Fairbanks! _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

Snow crystals shed some light on the subject. _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

These large snow crystals tell a story of ice evolution. _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

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

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

Notice the fractures within the ice. _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com

Quartz crystals or ice?? _________________________________________________________________ Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com

Jazzy ice _________________________________________________________________ Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com

What a concept...conception! _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.

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.