What Makes Snowflakes Different from Other Snow Types?
Discover why not every piece of snow is a snowflake and learn about ice pellets and graupel.
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No, not every piece of snow is a snowflake. Snow can fall as snowflakes, ice pellets, or graupel (soft hail). Snowflakes are the classic six-sided ice crystals that form at specific temperatures and humidity levels. Ice pellets are small, round, and hard pieces of ice—often referred to as sleet—while graupel consists of ice pellets coated with rime, giving them a softer texture. These different forms occur due to variations in atmospheric conditions.
FAQs & Answers
- What are the different types of snow? The primary types of snow include snowflakes, ice pellets, and graupel, each forming under different atmospheric conditions.
- What is the structure of a snowflake? A snowflake is typically a six-sided ice crystal that forms at specific temperatures and humidity levels.
- How does graupel differ from regular snow? Graupel consists of ice pellets that are coated with rime, giving it a soft texture, unlike the classic snowflake.
- Why does sleet form? Sleet, or ice pellets, form when raindrops freeze before reaching the ground, typically during warmer winter conditions.