Hoarfrost: Living in a Winter Wonderland

Photo Credit: Pixabay Images

By: Mia Clementi

Ever wonder why some winter mornings you wake up and look outside to see the trees glistening with what looks like a fresh coat of icicles painted onto each branch? You know… the mornings where it feels like you just stepped into a winter wonderland in one of those Hallmark movies? Well this magical experience is not actually magic at all. It is a winter phenomenon that occurs when the conditions are just right. This is called hoarfrost. Hoarfrost is not like your regular old windshield frost we typically see on cold winter mornings. It occurs when moisture in the air skips the droplet stage and freezes instantly onto an object. This is only able to happen when the air and the object itself is at or below freezing. Different from regular frost, hoarfrost requires the surrounding air to be much more moist. This moisture can come from a variety of sources. It can come from humid air simply moving into the area with our regular weather pattern, or it can be from moisture being released from a nearby unfrozen lake or stream.

Photo credit: Colleen Hart
The Weather Channel Facebook page 

So why does hoarfrost look so different from regular old windshield frost? The answer is in the way it “grows.” Hoarfrost develops long ice needles that “grow” as more water droplets come into contact with the below freezing object, such as a branch on a tree or a fence. This is what gives the trees a hairy-like effect on those winter wonderland mornings. Sometimes we can see these needles more prominently growing in one direction or on one side of the tree. This is because hoarfrost “grows” in the direction with which the moisture is arriving from. This hairy-like effect is actually what gave it its name. The word hoarfrost is of English descent describing the resemblance of an old man’s beard. So next time you go outside and see the trees glistening with brand new ice crystals you can think it’s as though the trees grew a new beard to help them weather the harsh winter cold.

Photo Credit: Michael Fox

Sources-

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/what-is-hoarfrost/7092

https://www.britannica.com/science/hoarfrost

Winter is here!

 

    With colder temperatures and snow beginning to fall in our area comes winter activities, and Beaver Creek has plenty of fun things to do this winter! Cross-country skis and snowshoes are available to rent, but we need at least six inches of snow out at the Reserve before we can start renting. Stay updated with us on our website and social media pages to be the first to know when rentals become available! Rentals cost $3 each for members and $10 each for nonmembers. 

    We also have our Christmas Bird Count which has different location options depending on the day. The Christmas Bird Count is an annual survey where bird lovers drive around their assigned location counting as many birds as they can see. According to the National Audubon Society, the history of the count is this, "Prior to the turn of the 20th century, hunters engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas 'Side Hunt.' They would choose sides and go afield with their guns—whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered (and furred) quarry won. Conservation was in its beginning stages in that era, and many observers and scientists were becoming concerned about declining bird populations. Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an early officer in the then-nascent Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition—a 'Christmas Bird Census' that would count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them." Our first Christmas Bird Count is on Saturday Dec. 18th from 6:30am to noon in Holcomb, WI. Check out our events calendar on our website for more dates and registration deadlines. Other events to look out for are Snowshoe lacing where participants will learn how to make their own snowshoes, registration closes on December 23rd; as well as learning how-to cross-country ski for beginners. Make sure to check out our events calendar for more details.

    We also have virtual event options! On Monday December 20th from 10-11am, there is a presentation called "Night Lights: Bioluminescent Insects and other creatures that glow" where participants to get to "learn about the science behind bioluminescence, what insects glow and why they developed these mechanisms." Make sure to register for this event by Sunday December 19th. Another virtual event to check out is on Tuesday January 4th from 2-3pm, called "Navigating with Stars Around the World", participants learn about stargazing and navigation. Make sure to register for this event by Monday January 3rd. All registration is done on our website. Make sure to check out our events calendar for more virtual events. We hope the winter is enjoyable!