Snow and Ice: Images

NSIDC's Image & Photo Gallery

The National Snow and Ice Data Center presents black and white photographs (glaciers), color photographs (photos from NIDC staff), and satellite images (sea ice, ice shelves, and MODIS images) in this gallery. Images from this collection (particularly the animations of the extent of sea ice in Antarctica) can be used by students as data sources for making decisions about global warming. Images and data provided by NSIDC may be used for educational purposes, but they request that users cite the NSIDC as the source of the data. Most images are labeled with copyright statements which should be reproduced if the images are reused. Contact the NSIDC if you have any questions about how to properly cite material from this web site.

Earth and Space Sciences Standard 1: Understands atmospheric processes and the water cycle
ISTE Student Technology Standard 5: Uses technology research tools
ISTE Student Technology Standard 6: Uses technology problem-solving and decision-making tools

Snow Crystal Gallery

Beautiful pictures of individual snow crystals. Be sure to enlarge them to appreciate the full beauty of these images.

Earth and Space Sciences Standard 1: Understands atmospheric processes and the water cycle

Visible Earth - Cryosphere Gallery

This site from NASA provides satellite photos of Ice and Snow from all over the world. Clicking a link under a photograph will take you to a site that describes the photo and has links to larger images. The larger images are truly stunning, even though the thumbnail may appear somewhat dull. Unless otherwise noted, all images and animations made available through Visible Earth are not copyrighted. You may use these images for educational or informational purposes, including photo collections, textbooks, public exhibits, and Internet web pages. This general permission does not include the NASA insignia logo (the blue "meatball" insignia).

Earth and Space Sciences Standard 1: Understands atmospheric processes and the water cycle
ISTE Student Technology Standard 3: Uses technology productivity tools

Wilson A. Bentley

In the early 1900's this photographer spent years perfecting his photography of snowflakes. Take the Snowflake link to see some of his black and white snowflake pictures. Click on the small pictures in the gallery to see a larger image. All images are in the public domain but may not be resold in any form.

Nature of Science Standard 13: Understands the scientific enterprise

Electron Microscopy of Snow

Very interesting photographs of snow crystals. These were taken using a low temperature scanning electron microscope. A set of images that is particularly interesting is the Magnification Series. The site does not seem to list a copyright policy, but since the site is a government site, you should be able to use the images, if properly cited, for educational, non-profit applications.

Nature of Science Standard 13: Understands the scientific enterprise
Physical Sciences Standard 8: Understands the structure and properties of matter
Earth and Space Sciences Standard 1: Understands atmospheric processes and the water cycle

Designer Snowflakes

This site features artificially grown snowflakes. The images show different snowflake crystals as they grow and change over time. The images in this designer showcase may be reproduced for non-profit use, but the author asks that if you use it for a web site or public presentation that you include a link to snowcrystals.net. Please also note that the parent website includes many other snowflake images. If you choose to use any of these, please read the full copyright statement for the site.

Nature of Science Standard 13: Understands the scientific enterprise
Physical Sciences Standard 8: Understands the structure and properties of matter
Earth and Space Sciences Standard 1: Understands atmospheric processes and the water cycle