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Physical processes causing the formation of penitentes

P. Claudin, H. Jarry, G. Vignoles, M. Plapp, and B. Andreotti
Phys. Rev. E 92, 033015 – Published 25 September 2015
Physics logo See Focus story: Explaining the Periodicity of Snow Spikes

Abstract

Snow penitentes form in sublimation conditions by differential ablation. Here we investigate the physical processes at the initial stage of penitente growth and perform the linear stability analysis of a flat surface submitted to the solar heat flux. We show that these patterns do not simply result from the self-illumination of the surface—a scale-free process—but are primarily controlled by vapor diffusion and heat conduction. The wavelength at which snow penitentes emerge is derived and discussed. We found that it is controlled by aerodynamic mixing of vapor above the ice surface.

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  • Received 1 June 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.92.033015

©2015 American Physical Society

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Explaining the Periodicity of Snow Spikes

Published 25 September 2015

A new model explains the fixed periodicity of a rare snow formation that appears at high altitudes.

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Authors & Affiliations

P. Claudin1, H. Jarry1, G. Vignoles2, M. Plapp3, and B. Andreotti1

  • 1Laboratoire de Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, PMMH UMR 7636 ESPCI, CNRS, University Paris Diderot, University Pierre et Marie Curie, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005, Paris, France
  • 2Laboratoire des Composites ThermoStructuraux, LCTS UMR 5801 CNRS, UB1, CEA-Safran, 3 allée La Boetie, 33600 Pessac, France
  • 3Condensed Matter Physics, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, 91128 Palaiseau, France

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Issue

Vol. 92, Iss. 3 — September 2015

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