Theme Research

SNOW FLAKES

6 branched snow flake that has larger sub-branches in the middle of each arm. It represents more of a delicate snowflake.

The formation of a snow crystal seem like they have a pre-determined way in which they grow but they are essentially ice that have particular elements in their environment interact with them which creates the form into intricate patterns. There is a pre-conception that snowflakes are rain drops that have frozen solid, this however is not true. Snowflakes form when water vapour condenses directly into solid ice, it then continues to form on the ends of the starting crystal and continually grows from its centre point.

The different formations/patterns that are seen in snowflakes are then dependant on their environment, different wind directions, temperature and other factors. It is rare but possible that you can find two snowflakes that are alike, as long as the dependants are kept similar in a environment.

This snowflake has the six branching arms but its sub-branches have two noticeably arms that have grown differently, dependant on its environment.

Snowflakes usually grow six primary branches with each main branch supporting additional side branches. In nature you cannot find non-symmetrical ice crystals as it is not possible for such forms - 5,7 & 8. However in high winds it is possible for the variations to be increased and 12 sided snowflakes are possible, although rare. They are essentially two six sided flakes that have attached almost perfectly. The average size of a snow flake is 2mm so exceedingly small but still viewable by eye.

The way snowflakes form is much the same process as I have seen so far , in attempting to recreate this in grasshopper, starting off at the very basic aspects oft he form, in which it is based around arms extending out from a centrepoint inside a circle. With sub-branching arms then attached to the main branches. The similarities of this can be seen in the actual way snowflakes gradually grow outwards with their sub-branches.

This snow flake is two 6-sided flakes joined together in the middle. It's sub-branches create a strong central core that then branches of into node like crsytals at their ends.

This image shows different examples of how different the patterns snow flakes can produce, all based around having six branching arms.

This image of snow flakes shows how small and numerous they are, yet also shows how intricate and delicate each individual one is. just by them failing randomly on this suface, different lattice type patterns can be seen.

References-
Book -
K.Libbrecht, The Snowflake - Winters Secret Beauty, Voyageur Press, St Paul, 2003, cumulative.

K.Libbrecht, The Art Of The Snowflake, Voyaguer Press, Minneapolis, 2007, cumulative