What in the hey is this???

[The Freedom Train]

So, I walked my daughter to the bus stop this morning, and upon my return, I noticed this on my car:

http://i64.tinypic.com/1690n4w.jpg

http://i64.tinypic.com/2uh4n46.jpg

[Olaf]

In the images there are little drops of water in the "empty areas". Perhaps the snow is melted at these locations, because the temperature was higher. In case of the front cover there might be a stiffening structure in that shape beneth the cover, which also influences termal behaviour.

[The Freedom Train]

In the images there are little drops of water in the "empty areas". Prehaps the snow is melted at these locations, because the temperature was higher. In case of the front cover there might be a stiffening structure in that shape beneth the cover, which also influences termal behaviour.

Your guess is as good as mine! I have not driven the car since last night at 7:30 pm. When I finally fell asleep around 12:30 am last night it had still not started snowing, so I do not think there was any ambient warmth from last night's drive to make these markings. It is strange to say the least - usually when there is a dusting like this it just collects in the normal way - covering the car's hood and top in a uniform manner.

[Fellow Aspirant]

Raise the hood and have a look at the reinforcing structure on the bottom side of the hood. You'll find that it is a perfect match for the pattern on the top of the hood. Like Olaf says, it's produced by the thermal differences between the part of the hood with a double layer of steel (where the support frame is) and the single layer of metal (where the support frame is NOT). The engine mass will always be slower to cool (and heat) than the relatively thin hood material. Living in Canada, I've seen this lots!

As to the oval on the roof, I think it's where the alien spacecraft sent down an exploratory beam, probing for life forms to abduct. (or maybe it's where the roof structure is thinnest and/or has a small feature like an inside dome light attached).

Eyes on the skies!

B.

[Flash]

the eye of Ra on the roof and the checkered floor of the Free Masons on the hood.

Someone made you a joke! me think

¤=[Post Update]=¤



Who was up early morning, before you? in the house or at neighbours' places?

[Sunny-side-up]

In the images there are little drops of water in the "empty areas". Perhaps the snow is melted at these locations, because the temperature was higher. In case of the front cover there might be a stiffening structure in that shape beneth the cover, which also influences termal behaviour.

I think your right Olaf, that type of snow is very fine and would be influenced by the slightist surface temp.

[TargeT]

the eye of Ra on the roof and the checkered floor of the Free Masons on the hood.

Someone made you a joke! me think

¤=[Post Update]=¤



Who was up early morning, before you? in the house or at neighbours' places?

Perfectly natural, the cross hatching marks on the hood are just where the thicker bracing is to keep the hood stiff, the melted areas in the middle are where only thin sheet metal is present.

On the roof the same sort of thing happened, except there wasn't much heat left and it was all gathered at the highest point of the vehicle roof.

[The Freedom Train]

Perfectly natural, the cross hatching marks on the hood are just where the thicker bracing is to keep the hood stiff, the melted areas in the middle are where only thin sheet metal is present.

On the roof the same sort of thing happened, except there wasn't much heat left and it was all gathered at the highest point of the vehicle roof.

Indeed, you are right and sorry for the silly waste of space with this thread. I had never seen this phenomenon before, so I was a little taken aback - but indeed you are right.

[TargeT]

Perfectly natural, the cross hatching marks on the hood are just where the thicker bracing is to keep the hood stiff, the melted areas in the middle are where only thin sheet metal is present.

On the roof the same sort of thing happened, except there wasn't much heat left and it was all gathered at the highest point of the vehicle roof.

Indeed, you are right and sorry for the silly waste of space with this thread. I had never seen this phenomenon before, so I was a little taken aback - but indeed you are right.

I lived in Alaska for a while, this type of thing used to happen pretty regularly on the warmer days (which could appear at any time of the year... haha crazy weather there).

[Ernie Nemeth]

crumple zones, man...