Melt Pattern and Convective Hexagon Dynamics

By Reed Guerin & Stephen Guerin

Introduction

This melt pattern on a car hood demonstrates heat-driven dynamics that share similarities with convective hexagon patterns, particularly in Rayleigh-Bénard convection. The spatial organization of melted and unmelted snow is a result of localized heat transfer from the engine-warmed hood.

Thermal Gradient and Pattern Formation

The warm hood serves as a heat source, melting snow unevenly due to structural and material variations underneath. Areas with better heat conduction create depressions as the snow melts faster, while insulated or reinforced sections retain snow longer.

Comparison to Rayleigh-Bénard Convection

In classical Rayleigh-Bénard convection, a temperature gradient in a fluid layer produces hexagonal convective cells. Here, instead of fluid motion, the phase transition from solid snow to liquid water acts as an imprint of the underlying heat flux, creating an emergent spatial pattern.

Conclusion

This phenomenon represents a frozen snapshot of a convective-like process, where phase transitions highlight underlying heat transport dynamics. Further studies can explore how car hood reinforcement patterns influence snow melt in a structured way.