The Dubious World's Largest Snowflake Record
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Deep Dive
What is the Guinness World Record for the largest snowflake, and why is it considered dubious?
The Guinness World Record for the largest snowflake is 15 inches in diameter, reported in Montana in 1887. However, physicist Kenneth Libbrecht is skeptical because such a size is scientifically implausible for a single snow crystal. He argues that the record likely refers to a 'puffball' made of many tiny snow crystals tangled together, not a single crystal.
What is the difference between a snow crystal and a snowflake?
A snow crystal is a single ice crystal with six-fold symmetry, resembling the intricate shapes cut from folded paper. A snowflake, however, can refer to a cluster of many tiny snow crystals tangled together, forming a larger, puffier structure. This distinction is crucial for understanding records like the 'largest snowflake.'
How big can a single snow crystal realistically grow?
The largest single snow crystal Kenneth Libbrecht has created in a lab was about an inch across, but it was fragile and falling apart under its own weight. In nature, the largest snow crystal he photographed was 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) across, observed during a snowstorm in Ontario.
What is the largest snowflake ever photographed by researchers?
The largest snowflake photographed by researchers, specifically Sandra Uter and her team, was 35.33 millimeters (1.4 inches) across. This is significantly smaller than the 15-inch Guinness World Record, which lacks photographic evidence.
What factors limit the size of snowflakes in nature?
The size of snowflakes is limited by the time snow crystals have to collide and tangle together before hitting the ground. A typical snowstorm is about six kilometers high, and snow crystals fall at about one meter per second, giving them roughly an hour to grow. Wind, temperature, and vapor conditions also play a role, making extremely large snowflakes highly unlikely.
Why is the 1887 snowflake record still listed in Guinness World Records?
The 1887 record for the largest snowflake remains in Guinness World Records, but it now includes a qualifier distinguishing it from the largest single snow crystal. This addition aims to educate people about the difference between a snowflake (a cluster of crystals) and a snow crystal (a single crystal).
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