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Understanding SnowSnow
is ice crystals formed around dust or other particles in the atmosphere.
"Crystal" origins from the Greek word krystallos which means 'ice',
'crystal'.
All snow crystals have six sides, but
each individual snowflake has a unique pattern.
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Snow is actually
transparent (you can look through it)...It is
the many sides of its crystals that makes it appear white! |
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no two snowflakes are the same, you can still categorize them in types of crystals. The
most frequent snow crystals are needles, column, plate, column capped with plates,
dendrite and star. The types depend on the humidity and temperature when they are forming. |
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It can take up to 2
hours for a snowflake to reach ground. Even the heaviest snowflake falls at only one mile
per hour. About 23 % of the Earth’s surface is permanently or temporarily covered
with snow. |
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Although you think of the Arctic as a place
where it snows a lot, it actually receives relatively little snow. In fact, in one year,
more snow falls on the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, in Africa, than falls on many parts of
the Arctic. Much of the American Arctic receives only 40 inches (100 cm) of fresh snow a
year with the greatest amount between 66 1/2 and 75 inches falling on northern Labrador
and on the eastern coast of Baffin Island. These numbers are only approximate numbers,
because it is very difficult to measure the snowfall due to strong winds that drive the
snow.
But the snow that falls in these
areas has the tendency to remain for some time. Some parts of the Arctic has snow all year
round, other places are covered with snow for between 7 to 10 months a year.
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The
culture of many northern people has been influenced by
snow especially the Inuit. This is why they have so many
different words describing snow - how it falls, how it appears on the ground, and its
different textures... |
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| Karakartanaq
- crusty snow that breaks under foot
Qannialaag - light falling
snow
Pukaangajuq - best snow for
building an igloo
Anniu - falling snow
Api - ground snow
Qali - snow on the boughs of
trees
Qamaniq - bowl like
depression under tree
Siqoqtoaq - sun crust
Siqoq - smoky (drifting snow)
Anamana - space between
drifts and obstruction
Upsik - wind-beaten snow
Mapsuk - overhanging drift
Kaioglaq - sharply etched
wind-eroded surface
Tumarinyiq - ripple type
drift
Kalutoganiq - arrow shaped
snow drift
Kimoaqtruk - snow drift
Pukak - bottom snow layer
(depth hoar)
Salumaroaq - smooth surface
of fine particles
Natatgonaq - rough surface of
large particles
Quinzhee - snow shelter |
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Does it make sense to
you that the Inuit have so many words describing snow!? Can you think of anything in your
part of the world that has many names depending on its form!? Do you have a lot of snow
where you live??
If not, maybe you should GROW SOME SNOW!!!!
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 >
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To
learn ALL there is to know about snow crystals and snow flakes in DETAIL (and it is a lot)
visit "Snow
Crystals" |
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Once you have
been there (or maybe even before) here are 5 tough ones...
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Is it ever too
cold to snow? Answer |
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How big can
snowflakes get? Answer |
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Why is snow white?
Answer |
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What causes the
blue color that sometimes appears in snow and ice? Answer |
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How much snow
falls where I live? Answer |
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