Field Guide to Snow Crystals

While working on avalanche research in the 1950's, Edward Chapelle discovered that the variation in snow crystal forms influences the occurrence of avalanches. This discovery led him to write this "Field Guide to Snow Crystals" to explain the basics of snow crystal identification and metamorphism to interested laypersons. In this case, "snow crystal" includes what is commonly called a "snowflake". So if you are interested in understanding snowflakes, this book is for you. The field guide has three parts. The first section addresses the identification of snow crystals. There are charts which allow the reader to identify any snow crystal (or snowflake) that he finds. And there is an explanation of how and why snow crystals form. The second part of the book explains how to photograph a snow crystal, which might be of interest to photographers specializing in close-up work as well as snowflake enthusiasts. The third and final section of the book contains 50 photographs of snow crystals, which illustrate discussions of what happens to snow as it falls and as it sits on the ground under various conditions. The metamorphism which causes snow crystals to alter their form as they lie on or under the surface of snow is both pictured and described in detail. The differences between snow, hoar, and rime are also pictured and described so that the reader can easily differentiate between them. I have only a casual interest in snowflakes, and I enjoyed this book. It made me think about the variety of forms I have seen snow take, and now I understand what I was looking at. My only criticism of this "Field Guide to Snow Crystals" is that it lacks a glossary of terms. New terms are explained as they arise, but a glossary in the back of the book would have been a helpful quick reference. I would recommend the "Field Guide to Snow Crystals" to skiers, mountain climbers, snow rangers, and anyone who has an interest in better understanding snow or snowflakes. The book is 6x8 inches in size and 101 pages long.