Snow Snow Snow refers to forms of ice crystals that precipitate from the atmosphere (usually from clouds) and undergo changes on the Earth's surface. It pertains to frozen crystalline water throughout its life cycle, starting when, under suitable conditions, the ice crystals form in the atmosphere, increase to millimeter size, precipitate and accumulate on surfaces, then metamorphose in place, and ultimately melt, slide or sublimate away. Snowstorms organize and develop by feeding on sources of atmospheric moisture and cold air. Snowflakes nucleate around particles in the atmosphere by attracting supercooled water droplets, which freeze in hexagonal-shaped crystals. Snowflakes take on a
Granular ice Granular ice Granular ice is one of the types of ice commonly referred to as Flake ice. Made in a tall, thin, vertical drum or 'freezing unit' with an auger running axially in the centre. A water level is set in the bottom of the drum by gravity and as ice crystals begin to form, the auger carries them up the drum where they are compressed and further frozen until they are ejected from the top as 'flakes'. By changing the geometry of the auger and introducing 'ice breakers' into the ejection arrangement, the size and appearance of the ice