The process of snow formation can be explained scientifically. Have you ever wondered how snow can be in the form of ice? Check out the explanation here.
Definition and Process of Snow
For us, Indonesians seem to be very foreign to snow. This is because we live in a tropical climate which only has two seasons.
While the snow itself is in areas with 4 seasons or subtropics. Even so, it does not mean that Indonesians are not curious about snow.
Winter is always eagerly awaited by people who live in subtropical climate areas. Even though when it snows the air becomes very cold, but it will always be looked forward to.
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So what exactly is snow? Why is it so cold? Snow has the understanding as a solid form of water that falls to the earth.
The water in the atmosphere or clouds freezes and becomes solid crystals that we know as snow. The snow falls to the earth’s surface like ordinary rain.
Because it is made of frozen water, snow can also be said to be a mineral. This is because snow is ice that occurs naturally and is homogeneous.
This ice has a composition chemical namely H2O with hydrogen and oxygen atoms specifically bonded.
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Stages of the Process of Snow Occurrence
After knowing what snow is, you must still be curious about how it was formed. Here’s the process of the occurrence of snow.
- Water vapor evaporates and collects in the atmosphere.
- The water vapor reaches the point of condensation so that it clumps and forms clouds.
- The clumps of water floating in the air grew heavier until they fell to the ground.
- If the air temperature below is cold enough, the lump will crystallize.
- It’s snowing.
Conditions for Snow
Broadly speaking, the process of snow is the same as rain. The only difference is that in the process of forming snow, water undergoes a stage called crystallization.
However, crystallization of course does not happen immediately. There are several factors or conditions for crystallization to occur so as to produce snow grains.
The first is that the temperature under the cloud must be very cold. Very cold means being at freezing point or usually 0 degrees Celsius.
However, low temperatures also do not guarantee snow. There are other particles in the air that affect.
When the water that comes down from the cloud comes into contact with the particles in the air, the water will be polluted.
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If in the air there are particles that work to accelerate the formation of ice, then there are ice crystals.
These particles are called nucleators. In addition to accelerating freezing, these particles also function to glue water vapor together.
Snow Characteristics
After knowing the process of the occurrence of snow, it is incomplete if you do not know the characteristics and types.
Snow is an accumulation of ice crystals that form lumps. The characteristics of snow can be affected by changing weather conditions.
Several factors can determine the characteristics of snow as follows:
- Snow colors
What comes to your mind when you hear the word snow? Surely most would say white and cold. This is because snow is indeed synonymous with white and winter.
The white color of snow is due to the effect of light. The ice crystals on the snow reflect sunlight in all directions.
However, did you know that the process of the occurrence of snow can be red, green, blue, and even black. The colors of the snow can be caused by dust or mold.
Red snow occurs in parts of Europe as particles of red sand in the Sahara desert fill the air.
- Snow Temperature and Depth
Although it is always cold, the snow temperature can also be different. The surface temperature of the snow will depend on the temperature of the air above it.
That is, the lower the air temperature above, the colder the layer of snow near the surface. The snow that gets higher is mainly within 30-45 cm (12-18 inches).
Meanwhile, snow that is closer to the ground or deeper layers will be warmer. This happens because the soil temperature is warmer and does not have air.
So, the process of snow formation can be faster if you are in high areas because the air temperature is lower or colder. (R10 / HR-Online / Editor-Ndu)
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