The snow formation is associated with meteorological phenomena that cause a change in the physical state of the water and its solidification process. Snow can be found in several types in nature — flake, hail, snow grain, among others. Snow, in general, is part of the daily life of many people and cultures in the north of the planet, where there is a fixed population.
Populations that develop in areas where snow occurs are subject to some damage which can be removed by commercial snow removal contractor, such as landslides, avalanches, and accidents related to these activities. In some cases, we have the occurrence of snow, something rare for a country with a tropical climate but with some records over the years.
Snow Formation
Snow is a meteorological phenomenon caused by low temperatures or an abrupt drop in the place’s temperature. This phenomenon occurs more frequently in countries that have polar, cold, or temperate climates.
Snow can occur in regions with a tropical climate or a similar climate very rarely, and, for this, other climatic or meteorological phenomena need to happen or be associated with the fact, such as the movement of air masses or marine currents from colder regions of the planet (such as the Earth’s poles, areas of the Arctic Circle and the Antarctic Polar Circle).
When coming from these regions, the oceanic air masses or winds bring low temperatures and cold. When they contact hot areas, they promote a temperature change, freezing water vapor, which can form snow in more remote places.
Snow forms in the cloud by solidifying water vapor when the temperature drops, forming ice crystals. The water vapor freezes, forming ice crystals that fall as precipitation (rain) of snow.
Types Of Snow
Snow can present itself in several ways in nature, according to the American Meteorological Society. These types are complicated to differentiate in the natural environment, although they have different shapes, densities, and structures from each other. There are seven in total; check it out:
- Snowflake: It is the best-known form of snow in the world, of common occurrence. It is a flake-shaped ice crystal, hexagonal, and similar to a small star.
- Snow grain: called powdery snow, it is snow precipitation with tiny, opaque ice grain, corresponding to the solid form of drizzle. It can present an irregular spherical shape or a rarer, conical shape. When coming into contact with the surface, it can cause noise, such as roofs or the floor.
- Graupel: is the heaviest ice particle, known as an ice pellet. It is usually confused with fine hail; however, the diameter must be greater than 5 mm to be good hail.
- Hail: is a solid ice stone with a size equal to or greater than 5 mm. The shower may appear in nature in larger sizes, and in such cases, cause damage to the surface that touches the fall.
- Frozen rain: is rain in a liquid form that freezes when it comes into contact with the surface. This phenomenon only occurs when precipitation and temperatures close to the soil surface are meager, below zero.
- Snow water: consists of partially molten snow — traces of water droplets with snow inside. It is usually transparent, not snow-white; it resembles a drop of water in the process of freezing.
- Icicle: is the freezing of particles or drops of water in suspension when there is a fog. Freezing occurs when water droplets come into contact with the surface. At this time, temperatures are usually between -2 °C and -8 °C.
Snow In Culture And Everyday Life
Snow is part of the culture and life of many people. There are many countries and social groups that have adapted to this way of life; some of these countries are:
- Russia
- Greenland
- Canada
- USA
- Sweden
- Finland
- Norway
- Ireland
These countries have adopted, over time, this climate reality, creating their own cultures. An example of these cultures is sports. Click to see commercial snow removal contractors here
