Magono and Lee Classifications

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Magono & Lee Classification of Snow Crystals

These two snow scientists conducted extensive field work on weather conditions, moisture, temperature, etc., that affect snow crystal formation.

Their article "Meteorological Classification of Natural Snow Crystals," appeared in the Journal of the Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Japan.

Magono & Lee classification of snow crystals includes 80 different snow crystal types arranged into a comprehensive scheme that provides a numbering and lettering system to categorized snow crystals according to shape and structure.

Magono and Lee Developed their Comprehensive Snow Crystal Chart in 1966

Mom and Dad

N1a Elementary needle

C1f Hollow column
Many snowfalls contain mostly columnar crystals. The columns are hexagonal, and often form with hollowed out cones-like indentations at each end.

P2b Stellar crystal with sectorlike ends

N1b Bundle of elementary needles

C1g Solid thick plate

P2c Dendritic crystal with plates at end

N1c Elementary sheath

C1h Thick plate of skeleton form

P2d Dendritic crystal with sectorlike ends

N1d Bundle of elementary sheaths

C1i Scroll

P2e Plate with simple extensions

N1e Long solid column

C2a Combination of bullets

P2f Plate with sectorlike extensions

N2a Combination of needles

C2b Combination of columns

P2g Plate with dendritic extensions

N2b Combination of sheaths

P1a Hexagonal plate

P3a Two-branched crystal

N2c Combination of long solid columns

P1b Crystal with sectorlike branches

P3b Three-branched crystal

C1a Pyramid

P1c Crystal with broad branches

P3c Four-branched crystal

C1b Cup

P1d Stellar crystal

P4a Broad branch crystal with 12 branches

C1c Solid bullet

P1e Ordinary dendritic crystal

P4b Dendritic crystal with 12 branches

C1d Hollow bullet

P1f Fernlike crystal

P5 Malformed crystal

C1e Solid Column

P2a Stellar crystal with plates at end

R4a Hexagonal graupel

P6d Stellar crystal with spatial dendrites

S2 Scalelike side planes

R4b Lump graupel

P7a Radiating assemblage of plates

S3 Combination of side planes, bullets, and columns

R4c Conelike graupel

P7b Radiating assemblage of dendrites

R1a Rimed needle crystal

I1 Ice particle

CP1a Column with plates
or Capped Columns Capped Coluumns are basically crystals which start out as columns, but suddenly switch to plate-like growth. This phenomon may happen if a crystal gets blown into a region with a different temperature.