A photo from open sources
Siberian anticyclone brought to the capital a rare meteorological phenomenon – ice needles. More meteorologists their called diamond dust. To gems it has no relationship … ice needles – atmospheric phenomenon, solid precipitation in in the form of tiny ice crystals floating in the air, formed in frosty weather (the minimum air temperature in Moscow today amounted to -15.6, in the region up to 20 degrees of frost). Ice needles have a needle-shaped or star-shaped shape. They are hollow (unbranched) crystals or snow stars; most large crystals have a noticeable fall rate. From similar Elements consist of clouds of the upper tier. Are formed as a result sublimation of water vapor at low air temperature. In the air ice needles are in suspension, sparkle during the day in the sun, at night – from the light of lanterns and the moon.
A photo from open sources
Often, ice needles form beautiful luminous at night “pillars” going from the lanterns up into the sky.
A photo from open sources
Observed most often in clear or cloudy skies, sometimes fall out of cirrostratus or cirrus clouds. In individual falling ice needles can cause physical injury to people or animals. This atmospheric phenomenon for Moscow is rather a rarity than a common occurrence. Diamond dust is usually severe Russian winters are famous in Siberia and in the Far North of our countries.
Moscow Siberia
