Supercooled Clouds Form Stunning Ice Kingdoms Atop Mountains
MOUNT WASHINGTON, N.H. (AP) — Winter is over a month away, but otherworldly ice kingdoms already have formed atop some New Hampshire mountains.
Photo Gallery: Rime Ice On Mount Washington
Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the Northeast at 6,288 feet, and Mount Adams are among those that have rime ice — supercooled water droplets that freeze when they come into contact with an object.
What causes the stunning phenomenon known as rime ice atop New Hampshire mountains: https://t.co/1YMfPt7vBO pic.twitter.com/NzxE95eBaM
— CBS News Sci Tech (@CBSSciTech) November 18, 2015
Rime ice creates stunning formations that look wind-blown, but it actually grows into the direction of the wind.
#Rime ice revealed: an @EASTERNMNTN glove shows size. From which direction was the wind blowing? #nhwx #science pic.twitter.com/cY1nlC7dbX
— Mount Washington Observatory (MWO) (@MWObs) November 17, 2015
Kaitlyn O'Brien, a meteorologist and co-director of summit operations at the Mount Washington Observatory, said Tuesday rime ice forms when the mountain is in the clouds and temperatures are below freezing.
More #rimeice! #Rime forms when we are in the clouds & below freezing, & grows into the wind! #nhwx pic.twitter.com/TrnxI1xyqK
— Mount Washington Observatory (MWO) (@MWObs) November 15, 2015
That can happen much of the year. She says rime ice can occur any time but it typically starts in September or October.
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