diamond dust

meteorology

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Last updated

June 25, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "diamond dust" can refer to two distinct concepts. In one context, it is synonymous with diamond powder, which is finely crushed diamond used as an abrasive.12

In meteorology, "diamond dust" refers to ice crystals that fall from clouds in very cold polar regions. These ice crystals are small and often appear as a fine, shimmering dust. They form through processes similar to other ice precipitation, where water vapor deposits onto ice crystals, causing them to grow. These crystals can take various shapes depending on atmospheric conditions.3

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climate
Snow and sleet
Small ice columns and needles, “diamond dust,” will be formed and will float down, glittering, even from a cloudless sky. In the coldest parts of Antarctica, where temperatures near the surface are below −50 °C (−58 °F) on the average and rarely above −30 °C (−22 °F), the formation of…
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Small ice columns and needles, “diamond dust,” will be formed and will float down, glittering, even from a cloudless sky. In the coldest parts of Antarctica, where temperatures near the surface are below −50 °C (−58 °F) on the average and rarely above −30 °C (−22 °F), the formation of…
Read More