It may sound esoteric, but he hopes that understanding the conditions needed for particular sorts of flake to form will enable meteorologists to give out accurate warnings of air-pockets that pilots should avoid in order to prevent their aircraft icing up.

ECONOMIST: Atmospheric science

This includes a rigorous de-icing process for aircraft and runways as well as a fleet of giant plows that follow the TV 2000 to clear the snow blown off runways.

CNN: How airports beat bad weather

As the anti-icing fluids lose their effectiveness in flight, the aircraft is still equipped with systems that prevent frozen precipitation from building on the wings, tail and various sensors around the airplane.

CNN: Airplane deicing: The how and why

Anti-icing fluid also has an additive that thickens it more than deicing fluid to help it adhere to aircraft surfaces as it speeds down the runway during takeoff.

CNN: Airplane deicing: The how and why