Toward a Comprehensive Model of Snow Crystal Growth: 10. On the Molecular Dynamics of Structure Dependent Attachment Kinetics

TL;DR

This paper investigates the molecular dynamics of ice crystal growth, proposing that edge-dependent surface diffusion significantly influences attachment kinetics and explains morphological changes in snow crystals.

Contribution

It introduces a quantitative model linking surface diffusion to structure-dependent attachment kinetics, enhancing understanding of snow crystal growth mechanisms.

Findings

Surface diffusion can enhance terrace nucleation on narrow facets.

Edge-dependent surface diffusion impacts snow crystal morphology.

Model aligns with observed temperature-dependent growth patterns.

Abstract

I examine the molecular dynamics of ice growth from water vapor, focusing on how the attachment kinetics can be augmented by edge-dependent surface diffusion. Although there are significant uncertainties in developing an accurate physical model of this process, it is possible to make some reasonable estimates of surface diffusion rates and admolecule density enhancements, derived from our basic understanding of ice-crystal growth processes. A quantitative model suggests that edge-dependent surface diffusion could substantially enhance terrace nucleation on narrow faceted surfaces, especially at the onset of surface premelting. This result supports our hypothesized mechanism for structure-dependent attachment kinetics, which readily explains the changes in snow crystal growth morphology with temperature depicted in the well-known Nakaya diagram. Many of the model features described here may be amenable to further quantitative investigation using existing computational models of the molecular structure and dynamics of the ice surface.