Ice patterns on the inside of my windshield

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    Ice Patterns
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the appearance of intricate ice patterns on the inside of a car windshield, exploring potential causes and explanations for these formations. Participants consider various factors such as temperature, humidity, and the cleanliness of the windshield, while also referencing the symmetry of ice crystals.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes observing frost patterns with intricate intersecting lines and geometric shapes, suggesting a connection to the sixfold symmetry of ice crystals.
  • Another participant questions the location of the patterns, confirming they are on the inside of the windshield.
  • A suggestion is made to clean the driver's side of the windshield to see if it affects the formation of the patterns.
  • One participant proposes that the patterns could be related to crystal structure or polishing scratches, questioning the cleanliness of the windshield.
  • Another participant mentions the possibility of engine coolant affecting the interior of the windshield due to a malfunctioning defroster.
  • A participant references time lapse photography of frost patterns forming as a potential method to study the phenomenon further.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various hypotheses regarding the cause of the patterns, with no consensus reached on a single explanation. Multiple competing views remain regarding the factors contributing to the observed ice formations.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the specific temperature and humidity conditions at the time of observation, which may influence the formation of the patterns. There is also mention of the cleanliness of the windshield, which could affect the results.

jack476
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I got into my car last night saw these patterns on the inside. Some of them just look like frost formed on some streaks from when I must have wiped it, but then there all these really intricate patterns of intersecting straight lines. There were no cracks or scratches on the interior that I could feel.

This picture is the most interesting because the lines make a nearly perfect equilateral triangle near the center of the picture:
y9UkZmp.jpg

Zoomed out, you can see one of the places where it looked like frost formed by sticking to lines of grease or something left over by a wipe:
msZOjol.jpg

There was an interesting rhombus-like pattern also:
fC4aCPU.jpg

And also a hexagon pattern in the bottom center of this one:
mWSwLO9.jpg

Zoomed-out picture showing most of it (the date and time on the clock are both way off so ignore that):
bWzX5ph.jpg

I've never seen this before and I'm wondering what could have caused it? I posted this elsewhere and several replies (who apparently did not read when I said they were on the inside of the windshield) insisted that it was due to wiper fluid.

Given how many near-60-degree angles there are in the pictures, I assume it has something to do with the sixfold symmetry of how ice crystals and snowflakes form, somehow projected on to the inner surface of my windshield.

It was around -2 F out at about 60% humidity when I took these. I am going to see if the same thing happens again tonight since the weather will be about the same.
 

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What gets spoiled if I click on the spoiler? o0) I want to look at what I guess are pictures but I don't want to spoil anything.
 
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Spinnor said:
What gets spoiled if I click on the spoiler? o0) I want to look at what I guess are pictures but I don't want to spoil anything.

The pictures are very large so I nested them in spoiler tags.
 
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Another stupid question, inside or on the outside of your windshield?
 
Spinnor said:
Another stupid question, inside or on the outside of your windshield?

All of the patterns were on the inside. In the first two pictures, the lumpy pieces of ice on the right edge of the windshield are on the outside, but all of the lines and streaks were on the inside surface.
 
You might clean just the drivers side part of the window really good and see what effect that has, plus you will get to see a bit better.
 
I'm going to guess crystal structure (which glass isn't supposed to have) or polishing "scratches".

Do you keep the inside of your windshield religiously clean?
 
Engine coolant can spray on the interior of a windshield due to a malfunctioning defroster.

Likely you would have this stuff accumulate and have to be wiped off. Recall an experience where "weird" stuff had to wiped off the inside of the windshield?
 
jack476 said:
Hurry up and decode it to find out what Optimus Prime is trying to tell you.
350px-Movie2007_Sam_holds_up_glasses.jpg
 

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