Item: Grain Growth in Snow With a Temperature Gradient
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Title: Grain Growth in Snow With a Temperature Gradient
Proceedings: Proceedings of the 1982 International Snow Science Workshop, Bozeman, Montana, USA
Authors:
- S.C. Colbeck [ US Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, New Hampshire 13755 ]
Date: 1982
Abstract: When a temperature gradient is imposed on a snow cover, a vapor pressure gradient arises as well. The resulting vapor flow among particles causes grain growth. The vapor flow and grain growth are described in a multiparticle system using a statistical description of the snow. The calculation of grain growth for a given temperature gradient does not, in itself, adequately describe snow metamorphism. At large temperature gradients when super saturations exceed the critical supersaturation for the onset of dislocation-aided crystal growth, depth hoar crystals grow. At lesser temperature gradients where lower super saturations arise, the equilibrium forms of snow crystals evolve (at higher temperatures these are well rounded). A series of experiments on the growth of single crystals in the laboratory has identified the critical supersaturation at which dislocation-aided growth begins. Thus the growth of both rounded and faceted crystals in snow can be quantified and explained.
Language of Article: English
Presenters: Unknown
Keywords: vapor pressure, grain growth, crystals
Page Number(s): 8-9
Subjects: temperature gradients snow cover snow metamorphism
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Digital Abstract Not Available
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