An Algorithm for Needle Ice Growth.

The morphology of needle ice growth is variable owing to entrapment of mineral soil particles, freezing plane depth, and banding. This paper attempts to link these morphologic variations to the needle growth environment by means of a simple algorithm. The algorithm is based on the hypothesis that morphologic variability can be traced to variability in surface energy transfer, soil water tension, and the thermal-hydraulic properties of the near-surface soil layers during needle evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]