Three-Dimensional Morphology of Natural Snow Crystals

We reveal that the external form of a snow crystal consists of the combination,of one basal plane and, an intricate 3D rounded surface. Snow crystals have various morphologies including needles, plates, sectors, and dendrites. Many of these snow-crystal shapes are planar, and thus are often treated as a two-dimensional or a faceted crystal consisting of. only basal and prism planes despite their complex three-dimensional (3D) features. In, this study, we directly measure the 3D morphology of natural snow crystals using a, Michelson interferometer combined with a reflecting microscope. The 3D morphologies of both stellar With sectors and dendrite are analyzed from the;distribution Of interference fringes, observed on then surfaces. Additionally, dendrite crystal has a thickness of only several micrometers at the middle of the branch and no prism. face. On the non-basal surfaces, there are ridges and sub-ridges, similar to those in Mountain topography.