1/3/13

Diurnal Recrystallization


Diurnal recrystallization occurs in the mid-latitude mountains when cold, clear nights alternate with warm days (there's been an inversion around Cooke City lately).  While the temperature a foot below the snow surface remains relatively constant, snow surface temperatures change dramatically.  The surface becomes extremely cold at night and warms during the day.  The end result is the formation of near-surface faceted crystals.  (Birkeland, 1998).


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