Time Lag in Ice Crystal Nucleation by Silver Iodide

J. A. Warburton Radiophysics Laboratory, CSIRO, Sydney, Australia

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K. J. Heffernan Radiophysics Laboratory, CSIRO, Sydney, Australia

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Abstract

Measurements have been made of the time lag which silver iodide particles exhibit in the nucleation of ice crystals at temperatures between −8C and −16C. The time tag is approximately exponential, the decay constants being 3.6 minutes and 1.4 minutes at −8.5C and −15.5C, respectively. The decay constant at −15.5C is less by a factor of 4.5 than that for natural ice nuclei. The observed time lag is in qualitative agreement with Fletcher's theory.

Abstract

Measurements have been made of the time lag which silver iodide particles exhibit in the nucleation of ice crystals at temperatures between −8C and −16C. The time tag is approximately exponential, the decay constants being 3.6 minutes and 1.4 minutes at −8.5C and −15.5C, respectively. The decay constant at −15.5C is less by a factor of 4.5 than that for natural ice nuclei. The observed time lag is in qualitative agreement with Fletcher's theory.

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