Yukimarimo are balls of fine frost formed at low temperatures, between -50C (-59F) and -58C (-72F).

Yukimarimo are balls of fine frost formed at low temperatures, between -50C (-59F) and -58C (-72F).
Yukimarimo are balls of fine frost formed at low temperatures, between -50C (-59F) and -58C (-72F).

Yukimarimo are balls of fine frost formed at low temperatures, between -50C (-59F) and -58C (-72F).

This phenomenon was first noted in Antarctica in 1995. The balls are formed by electrostatic attraction between ice crystals. Yukimarimo are very light and very similar to cotton. They behave a bit like tumbleweed in deserts.

Picture by Heather Moe, NOAA Corps

andA. Barbero, IPEV/PNRA

#yukimarimo    #nature    #landscape    #antarctica    #greenland    
Source Link  via  WATERSHED+
WATERSHED+tumblr @ watershedplus
Wed, 06 Apr 2016 15:20:18