Natural Sightings: Pogonip means brrrr!
Related Photos
Erica Maier took this photo of pogonip clinging to dead branches on a ridge at the Sky River wind farm in the hills above Sand Canyon, near the Pacific Crest Trail. Pogonip is essentially frozen fog which forms on trees, shrubs, fences and other structures as super-cooled air is blown against exposed surfaces. This unusual weather phenomenon only happens when it is very cold, usually at night in the winter, and is visible a few times a year in the Tehachapi Mountains. Water usually goes through three stages: vapor, liquid, solid and then back again. In the case of pogonip, however, it is so cold that sublimation occurs and it goes directly from a vapor (clouds) to a solid (ice crystals) while skipping the liquid water phase in between. Pogonip is most commonly seen in the mountains south of town, around Tehachapi Peak, and in the mountains north of town towards the Sierra Nevada range.
NATURAL SIGHTINGS © is a regular feature of the Tehachapi News edited by Jon Hammond which showcases photos of the natural beauty that enhances the quality of life in Tehachapi. If you have a good quality image of plants, animals, insects, trees, birds, weather phenomena, etc., taken in the Tehachapi area, you may submit it to the Tehachapi News for possible publication. Submissions can be dropped by the News office in the form of a print or CD, or sent by email to: editorial@tehachapinews.com.
