Jack Frost is here, but what makes frost happen?
Ah Fall. The leaves, the change in the air, the frost. Frost is cool. Okay cold, but what I mean is that it looks cool. In fact the whole process of frost forming is really interesting.
So frost forms when the dew point (the temperature below which water comes out of the air) is below freezing. Now the interesting thing about frost is that it doesn’t form well (if at all) if it’s windy … even a light breeze can stifle frost from forming on surfaces. The next thing is that dew/frost settles down. For example, I park my car in the open in the driveway at the house. Lorraine parks hers under a tree. Past two mornings no frost on her car, lots on mine. The frost hits the branches first before it gets to her car!
The other interesting thing is when the dew point is above freezing but the temperature goes below freezing overnight. Then you get more of an ice than a frost on surfaces.
My favourite frost is hoar frost. That happens (if I understand it right) when there is a lot of water coming out of the air and the temperature doesn’t go far below freezing. Then you get that amazing snowy effect, almost fuzzy.
Those are the winter mornings that are awesome.
Tags: frost, frost formation, what is frost
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