 EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes
and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and
archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


 Ice Crystal Formation on Frozen Soap Bubble

   May 30, 2022


    PatriciaR_IMG_0475a dusted cr 40 percent (003)

   Photographer: Patricia Rasmussen

   Summary Authors:  Patricia Rasmussen;  Jim Foster

   There are several things of interest visible in this image of a frozen
    soap bubble, which is approximately 1 in (2.5 cm) in diameter. The
   soap bubble film is a sandwich made up of two soap layers with a water
   layer in between. Colors near the central portion of the bubble are
   likely due to diffraction processes -- light is interacting with the
   thin soap film.  Light waves are diffracted or scattered by the
   varying thickness of the film in such a way that the waves interfere
   with each other, creating regions of enhanced  color (constructive
   interference).

    Frost crystals form in the water layer part of the bubble film; the
   bubble itself is a hollow sphere. When photographing the crystals, the
   depth of field is very shallow. So, the photographer chooses the place
   where crystal growth is most active and the crystal pattern most
   beautiful. Thus, the focus is either on the front or back wall of the
   bubble. In this case, the back wall is prominent, while the growing
   crystals on the front wall give a cloudy/hazy illusion to the image.
   Note that as the bubble ages, the film becomes thinner, and the color
   fades just before the bubble pops.

   This photo was taken from my unheated garage on February 24, 2022. The
   bubble is blown using a straw onto a base of snow, artificially
   backlit, with some purple-tinted cracked ice for interest. "Bubblers"
   say this is a highly addictive photographic subject because of the
   seemingly infinite variables that cause the coloration and crystal
   growth. It is!  Click here to see a video of the crystals forming
   between the inner and outer surfaces of the bubble. Notice in this
   video that initially the crystals are rapidly swirling around the
   bubble, likely from my breath as I blow through the straw.

   Photo details: Canon 90D camera; F11; 1/250; 100 mm focal length; ISO
   800. Post processing was general—levels, contrast, and a small crop.
     * Eagle River, Wisconsin Coordinates: 45.9172, -89.2443

Related EPODs

    Ice Crystal Formation on Frozen Soap Bubble  2022 Ice Out Dates
   for Sebago Lake, Maine  Melting Frost on a Windshield  Palmer
   Archipelago, Antarctica Reflection  Hoarfrost Crystals in Maine
    Roof Top Icing
    More...

Cryosphere Links

     *  Guide to Frost
     *  What is the Cryosphere?
     *  Bentley Snow Crystals
     *  Glaciers of the World
     *  Ice, Snow, and Glaciers: The Water Cycle
     *  The National Snow and Ice Data Center Google Earth Images
     *  Snow and Ice Crystals

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   Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the  Universities
   Space Research Association.

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