A Critical Look at Ice Crystal Growth Data

Abstract

I review published data relating to the growth of ice crystals from water vapor under various conditions, and I critically examine the different measurements to determine what useful information can be extracted from each. I show that most, and possibly all, of the existing growth data have been seriously distorted by systematic errors of one form or another, to varying degrees. Many data sets are dominated by systematic effects, so that the conclusions drawn from them are unreliable. I list and describe these systematic errors in some detail so that they may be avoided in future experiments. I then cautiously draw conclusions from the growth data and compare with theories pertaining to our current understanding of the crystal growth dynamics of ice.