Whoa. Snow !

Snow is really nothing more than frozen water. Then why doesn't it look like ice?


There are a large number of ice crystals in each snowflake, and the reflection of light from all the surfaces of the crystals makes it look white.


Snow begins to be formed that are clear and transparent. Since there are currents in the air, these tiny crystals are carried up and down in the atmosphere. They fall and rise as different air currents move them along.


While this is happening, the crystals begin to gather around a nucleus, so that in time there may be hundred or more gathered together. When, this group of ice crystals is big enough, it floats down towards the ground. We call this collection of ice crystals a "snowflake". Some crystals are flat and some are like a column of needles. But regardless of shape, snow crystals are always have six sides or angles. The branches of any single snowflake are always identical, but the arrangement of the branches is different in every case. No two snowflakes are ever exactly very alike.


Did you know that snow is not always white ? In many parts of the world red, green, blue, and even black snow have been seen ! The reason for different colours is that sometimes  there are tiny fungi in the air, or dust is floating about, and this is collected by the snow as it falls.