What causes frost patterns on window panes?
We tell small children that Jack Frost adorns the windows with icy patterns or ferny foliage. Later in life we want the exact facts. In this case, the cold facts are even more fascinating than the fantasy of Jack Frost. Nature is the icy fingered artist. Tjhat looks like delicate brush work is done by changes in the weather conditions. ~Tost of the frosty patterns are caused by slight changes in the temperature of the air, but other factors also contribute to variations in design. Some of these factors are extremely complex. They are related to the formation of snow and other forms of frozen precipitation. In the meantime, lets enjoy the old fantasy that the frosty window panes are adorned by Jack Frost. For the major work is indeed done by puffs of frozen air at temperatures around the freezing point of water. The frost tends to form very early on cloudless mornings. The earth loses yesterday’s heat from the sun during the night. And surrounding air is cooled as it touches the ground
