When you know some interesting facts
about snow, including the consistency, temperature, and weight of snow, you can
be more prepared for the coming winter.
Many people think of snow as a
nuisance, but the truth is that snow, as a natural phenomenon, is really quite
miraculous. You probably learned that no two snowflakes are exactly alike in
elementary school. There’s plenty more to learn about snow, however, so read on
to find out more about the stuff of winter wonderlands.
Weight. Individual snowflakes are light, fluffy, and
melt in an instant. But did you know that snow can be impressively hefty when
all those little flakes get together? In fact, depending on the amount of
moisture in any given group of snowflakes, the weight of snow can range up to 21 pounds per cubic foot!
Color. Every winter, heavy snowfall transforms
certain regions into sparkling white landscapes. But on an individual level, snowflakes
aren’t white at all—they’re translucent. It’s only when light hits them from
all sides that they appear white. (Another fun fact: snowflakes change color
depending on algae content and pollution.)
Sound. Have you ever gone outside during snowfall
and found the world much quieter? That’s because newly fallen snow absorbs
sound waves. Ice, on the other hand, actually reflects sound waves. Thus,
older, icier snow won’t have quite the same muffling effect.
