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Asked by xlxkelsey2k10xlx to Anne, Carolyn, Joe, Mariana, Nick on 24 Mar 2010 in Categories: General.
Question: how does it snow?
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Nick Bradshaw answered on 24 Mar 2010:
Eeb – geography questions!
As I understand it, snow comes when an area of hot air is blown over the top of an area of cold air. Rain then falls from the warm top layer trough the old layer on its way to the ground. If the cold air is cold enough and if the cold layer is large enough that it takes the rain a while to faall through it, then the rain will freeze on its way down and become snow by the time it hits the ground.
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Carolyn McGettigan answered on 24 Mar 2010:
You asked for it!
Snow is a form of precipitation, in other words condensation of water vapor in the atmosphere. In the case of snow, the product of the precipitation is crystalline ice water. This is created when air moves upwards around a type of low-pressure weather system called an ‘extratropical cyclone’. These cyclones are comprised of inwardly rotating air, and they exist between the tropics and the poles. So, you get snow in locations like northern Europe and Canada but not at the equator. When the snow precipitates, it’s pulled down to the Earth’s surface by gravity – snowfall!
Wow, I’ve done a lot of learning in the last couple of weeks!
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Joseph Devlin answered on 24 Mar 2010:
To be honest, I have no idea — weather is a complete mystery to me despite our cultural obsession with it. I’m hoping that once I submit this and can see Carolyn and Nick’s answers, I’ll know more!
Comments
Joe commented on :
I was right — now I know more. Thanks folks!
modshamini commented on :
Education for scientists and students alike! The great thing about science is that you never stop learning.