snow
Sign in to saveSnow consists of individual ice crystals that grow while suspended in the atmosphere—usually within clouds—and then fall, accumulating on the ground where they undergo further changes. It consists of frozen crystalline water throughout its life cycle, starting when, under suitable conditions, the ice crystals form in the atmosphere, increase to millimeter size, precipitate and accumulate on surfaces, then metamorphose in place, and ultimately melt, slide, or sublimate away.
AI overview
Snow is frozen water that forms as ice crystals in clouds, grows larger, and falls to accumulate on the ground, where it continues to change over time. It matters because it represents a significant part of Earth's water cycle, undergoing transformations from its initial crystalline formation through melting, sliding, or evaporation.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Material.name
- Snow
- Material.image
- CargoNet Di 12 Euro 4000 Lønsdal - Bolna.jpg
- Material.caption
- Norwegian train plowing through drifted snow
- Material.density
- 0.1–0.8 g/cm3
- Material.tensile_strength
- 1.5–3.5 kPa
- Material.compressive_strength
- 3–7 MPa
- Material.melting_point
- 0 °C
- Material.thermal_conductivity_note
- For densities 0.1 to 0.5 g/cm3
- Material.thermal_conductivity
- 0.05–0.7 W/(K·m)
- Material.dielectric_constant_note
- For dry snow density 0.1 to 0.9 g/cm3
- Material.dielectric_constant
- 1–3.2
- Material.footnotes
- The physical properties of snow vary considerably from event to event, sample to sample, and over time.
Article
41 sectionsContents
- Precipitation
- Cloud formation
- Low-pressure areas
- Fronts
- Lake and ocean effects
- Mountain effects
- Cloud physics
- Classification of snowflakes
- Accumulation
- Event
- Distribution
- Records
- Metamorphism
- Seasonal
- Firn
- Movement
- Drifting
- Avalanche
- Melting
- Glaciers
- Science
- Measurement and classification
- Satellite data
- Models
- Effects on civilization
- Transportation
- Highway
- Aviation
- Rail
- Construction
- Agriculture
- Structures
- Roofs
- Utility lines
- Sports and recreation
- Warfare
- Effects on plants and animals
- Outside of Earth
- See also
- References
- External links
Snow consists of individual ice crystals that grow while suspended in the atmosphere—usually within clouds—and then fall, accumulating on the ground where they undergo further changes. It consists of frozen crystalline water throughout its life cycle, starting when, under suitable conditions, the ice crystals form in the atmosphere, increase to millimeter size, precipitate and accumulate on surfaces, then metamorphose in place, and ultimately melt, slide, or sublimate away.
Snowstorms organize and develop by feeding on sources of atmospheric moisture and cold air. Snowflakes nucleate around particles in the atmosphere by attracting supercooled water droplets, which freeze in hexagonal-shaped crystals. Snowflakes take on a variety of shapes, basic among these are platelets, needles, columns, and rime. As snow accumulates into a snowpack, it may blow into drifts. Over time, accumulated snow metamorphoses, by sintering, sublimation, and freeze-thaw. Where the climate is cold enough for year-to-year accumulation, a glacier may form. Otherwise, snow typically melts seasonally, causing runoff into streams and rivers and recharging groundwater.