Home > Term: dendritic crystal
dendritic crystal
A crystal, particularly a planar ice crystal, with its macroscopic form (crystal habit) characterized by intricate branching structures of a treelike nature. Dendritic ice crystals possess hexagonal symmetry, and tend to develop when a crystal grows by vapor deposition at temperatures within a few degrees of −15°C, providing saturation is close to supercooled water. Similar forms occur by ice growth into supercooled liquid water at temperatures down to −10°C. Spatial dendrites grow in three dimensions from a central frozen drop.
- Part of Speech: noun
- Industry/Domain: Weather
- Category: Meteorology
- Company: AMS
0
Creator
- Kevin Bowles
- 50% positive feedback