Dendritic crystal

Alternative definitions (2), class: vernacular (0)
Term: Dendritic crystal
Definition: (Or dendrite.) A crystal, particularly a planar ice crystal, with its macroscopic form (crystal habit) characterized by intricate branching structures of a treelike nature. Dendritic ice crystals possess hexagonal symmetry, and tend to develop when a crystal grows by vapor deposition at temperatures within a few degrees of -15C, providing saturation is close to supercooled water. Similar forms occur by ice growth into supercooled liquid water at temperatures down to -10C. Spatial dendrites grow in three dimensions from a central frozen drop.  AMSglossary 

Ice crystals whose macroscopic form is characterized by intricate branching structures which are treelike in form and which possess hexagonal symmetry in ideal form.  WMOMeteoterm 

 GCW 
Created 2017.06.06
Last Modified 2022.03.08
Contributed by GCW Glossary
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