Frost Flowers

This photo was taken by University of Washington graduate student Jeff Bowman. He and his professor Jody Beming are studying this strange phenomenon where frost grows in flower-like clusters from imperfections on the ice surface at sub-zero temperatures of -7 degrees fahrenheit. These structures house a huge amount of microorganisms, more than what is below the frozen surface. Each flower is like a temporary ecosystem, very much like a coral reef.