Toward a Comprehensive Model of Snow Crystal Growth: 7. Ice Attachment Kinetics near -2 C

Abstract

I examine a variety snow crystal growth experiments performed at temperatures near -2 C, as a function of supersaturation, background gas pressure, and crystal morphology. Although the different experimental data were obtained using quite diverse experimental techniques, the resulting measurements can all be reasonably understood using a single comprehensive physical model for the basal and prism attachment kinetics, together with particle diffusion of water vapor through the surrounding medium and other well-understood physical processes. As with the previous paper in this series, comparing and reconciling different data sets at a single temperature yields significant insights into the underlying physical processes that govern snow crystal growth dynamics.