File:Frost on Cottonwood Trees (46952392721).jpg
Original file (4,608 × 3,456 pixels, file size: 4.32 MB, MIME type: image/jpeg)
Captions
Captions
Summary
edit.jpg&action=edit§ion=1){kind=link}
| Description |
NPS/Patrick Myers
All frost requires water vapor in the air over cold ground with a surface dew point below freezing. When floating water vapor molecules contact a subfreezing surface (trees, grass, cars, etc.) they transition from a gas state to solid state, a process known as "deposition", leading to a coating of tiny ice crystals. This explains the typical light frost seen throughout the U.S., but in the San Luis Valley, heavy frosts commonly occur in winter months, with frost crystals reaching over an inch (2 cm) long. What conditions make this possible? Unlike most mountain valleys where cold air and moisture can easily migrate away down stream drainages, the San Luis Valley is essentially a flat, closed air basin. Frigid air settles off surrounding alpine mountains each winter evening, pooling on the valley floor below. (This is why Alamosa is often the coldest location in the U.S.) These temperature inversions, with icy air on the surface and warmer air above, trap and promote thick fog in subzero temperatures. Large crystals grow overnight, making for a winter wonderland! |
| Date | |
| Source | Frost on Cottonwood Trees |
| Author | Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve |
Licensing
edit.jpg&action=edit§ion=2){kind=link}
|
This image or media file contains material based on a work of a National Park Service employee, created as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, such work is in the public domain in the United States. See the NPS website and NPS copyright policy for more information. |  |
|
This image was originally posted to Flickr by Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve at https://flickr.com/photos/94707653@N06/46952392721. It was reviewed on 1 January 2022 by FlickreviewR 2 and was confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the Public Domain Mark. |
|
This media file is uncategorized.
Please help improve this media file by adding it to one or more categories, so it may be associated with related media files (how?), and so that it can be more easily found.
Please notify the uploader with {{subst:Please link images|File:Frost on Cottonwood Trees (46952392721).jpg}} ~~~~ |
File history
Click on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time.
| Date/Time | Thumbnail | Dimensions | User | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| current | 11:49, 4 October 2021 | | 4,608 × 3,456 (4.32 MB) | Ltn12345 (talk | contribs) | Transferred from Flickr via #flickr2commons |
You cannot overwrite this file.
File usage on Commons
There are no pages that use this file.
.jpg&oldid=810397783){kind=link}