Rime

Type

Ice

Area of origin

UK

Area of use

UK (esp Scotland)

Related terms

Hoar frost, Verglas

A hard, white ice that forms when water droplets in fog or low clouds freeze onto super-cooled surfaces. Rime can closely resemble hoar frost, especially in it’s early stages but the process of  formation differs: in rime the water is in droplet form when it meets the surface onto which it freezes whereas hoar frost forms from condensing water vapour. Unlike hoar frost Rime grows into the wind and under the right conditions can accumulate into massive ice sculptures.

Etymology

Derived from the Old English hrim meaning “hoarforst” N.B. the term now has a meaning which is distinct [see above]

Example locations

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