MIT Uncovers Weather’s Role in Triggering “Earthquake Swarms”
MIT researchers have linked heavy snowfall and rain to earthquake swarms in northern Japan, suggesting that extreme weather events can trigger seismic activity by altering…
Snow News
Snow is a form of precipitation that consists of ice crystals that form in the atmosphere when temperatures are sufficiently low and there is adequate moisture. These ice crystals typically stick together as they fall, forming snowflakes, which can have a variety of intricate, symmetrical patterns. Snow is distinct from other forms of winter precipitation such as sleet or freezing rain, which are caused by different atmospheric conditions. Snow accumulation can significantly impact ecosystems and human activities; it insulates the ground, affects water resources through snowmelt, and requires adaptations in transportation and infrastructure. In temperate and polar regions, seasonal snowfall is crucial for activities like winter sports and can be both a vital water source in spring and a challenging weather hazard, influencing climates and cultures around the world.
Sierra’s Surprise Snowpack Surge: 26+ Inches of Snow in One Day
A May storm dumped over two feet of snow in one day on parts of the California mountain range. While spring was springing across much…
Snow’s Secret Light Show: Scientists Reveal What Really Makes It Sparkle
Understanding the optical properties of snow may unlock advancements ranging from enhanced snow removal techniques to heightened avalanche safety. One might think that snow, of…
Defying Climate Change: Yellowstone’s Lake Ice Isn’t Melting Like Others
According to recent research led by scientists from the University of Wyoming, the duration for which Yellowstone Lake remains ice-covered each year has remained constant…
Revolutionary Concrete From Drexel Melts Snow and Ice Naturally
Drexel researchers show concrete with phase-change material can warm itself when temperatures fall. There’s a patch of concrete on Drexel University’s campus that could portend…
Freezing Point Phenomena: Unlocking the Strange Secrets of Ice Nucleation
Research unveils a mathematical model for ice nucleation, showing how surface angles affect water’s freezing point, with applications in snowmaking and cloud seeding. From abstract-looking…
Snowpack Shrinking: Alarming Trends Uncovered in 40-Year Climate Study
The study reveals that the Northern Hemisphere areas most dependent on snow for water are experiencing the sharpest declines. Snow presents a contradictory cue for…
Snowflake Secrets: Scientists Discover That Their Movement Is Astonishingly Predictable
Researchers from Utah have conducted a study that may significantly improve weather forecasting by finding that the movement of snowflakes is astonishingly predictable. Tim Garrett…
Snowpocalypse Now: Anchorage Smashes Snowfall Records
The Alaskan city of Anchorage received record snowfall in November 2023. Winter weather arrived in force in Southcentral Alaska in 2023. Anchorage logged its snowiest…
Snowless Ski Slopes Captured From Space – Lack of Snowfall in Alps and Pyrenees
Europe has kicked off the new year with an intense winter heatwave. The warm temperatures and lack of snowfall in the Alps and the Pyrenees…
A Warmer Arctic Ocean Leads to More Snowfall in Northern Eurasia
A new model explains that water evaporating from the Arctic Ocean due to a warming climate is transported south and can lead to increased snowfall…
Bizarre Underwater Snow Gives Clues About the Icy Shell of Jupiter’s Moon Europa
Below the thick icy crust of Jupiter’s moon Europa is a massive, global ocean where the snow floats upwards onto inverted ice peaks and submerged…
Visible From Space: The Consequences of Climate Change in the Alps
Global warming has a particularly pronounced impact on the Alpine region. Like the Arctic, this European mountain range is becoming greener. Scientists from the University…
NASA Aircraft Fly Into Snowstorms To Study Snowfall
Scientists repeatedly check the weather forecasts as they prepare aircraft for flight and perform last-minute checks on science instruments. There’s a large winter storm rolling…
Olympic Skiers and Snowboarders in China Are Competing on 100% Fake Snow – The Science of How It’s Made and How It Affects Performance
The Winter Olympics conjure up images of snowy mountain ranges, frozen ice rinks, and athletes in cold-weather gear. And for good reason. Winter Olympic venues…
Red Snow Phenomena: A Unique Balancing Act
Red snow is a unique phenomenon caused by blooms of red algae that live on the surface of snow. Now, researchers from Japan have developed…
Managing Western US Water Resources in a Low-to-No-Snow Future
With mountain snowpacks shrinking in the western US, new Berkeley Lab study analyzes when a low-to-no-snow future might arrive and implications for water management. Mountain…
The Changing Climate’s Snowball Effect – Can New Technologies Help?
Shrinking snowpack, thawing permafrost, and shifting precipitation patterns have widespread consequences. Can new technologies—and public policies—help communities adapt? It begins at the height of winter…