Yukimarimo at Dome C, Antarctica

ABSTRACT Balls of frost (yukimarimo) up to 12 cm in diameter and weighing up to 14 g were observed forming in light winds in the temperature range, −70 to −60 °C at Dome Charlie, Antarctica, during the 2014 winter. Their density ranged from 15 to 60 kg m −3 . Meteorological conditions during four fo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Glaciology
Main Author: PETENKO, IGOR
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jog.2016.30
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143016000307
Description
Summary:ABSTRACT Balls of frost (yukimarimo) up to 12 cm in diameter and weighing up to 14 g were observed forming in light winds in the temperature range, −70 to −60 °C at Dome Charlie, Antarctica, during the 2014 winter. Their density ranged from 15 to 60 kg m −3 . Meteorological conditions during four formation periods are tabulated. Their formation seems to be due to a clumping of crystals caused by electrostatic attraction, followed by the collection of hoarfrost crystals while rolling along the snow surface.