When temperatures drop and snow begins to fall, kids love to run outside and enjoy the magical flakes dropping from the sky. And when the fluffy powder accumulates on the ground, nature's playground offers boundless possibilities only limited by a child's imagination. Kids who love winter weather will love learning all these fun snow facts!
Snowflake Formation, Symmetry, Records, and Other Information
Snowflakes are delicate little crystals that fall from the sky and lay a blanket of magic across the ground, perfect for kids who want to head to the nearest mountain for a fun day of skiing. A large accumulation of these lovely little drops of moisture can create an instant playground for kids who love to be outdoors. Here are some pretty interesting tidbits about the weather conditions necessary for snowflakes to form, record snowfalls, and other trivia to share with your kids next time they go out and play in the cold snow. Lots of kids probably never slow down long enough to contemplate the formation of each individual flake, and how they fit into the natural water cycle. You will want to check out some intriguing children's books about snowflakes that are packed full of scientific information. Next time the crystals begin to drift peacefully down from above, little ones, will enjoy talking about their symmetry, color, and temperature required in order to cover the world in a blanket of white.
(1) Snow falls at a pace of about 1 to 4 mph.
There are a few factors that affect the speed of a falling snowflake, like environmental conditions as well as the mass and surface area of the snowflake. In rare circumstances, snow can fall at a pace of around 9 mph. This phenomenon occurs when snowflakes collect supercooled water, which are water droplets colder than 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
(2) Chionophobia is the intense fear of snow.
The symptoms of this phobia are similar to many other fears, such as rapid heart rate, feeling anxious, inability to manage irrational thoughts, sweating, and difficulty breathing. Some experts believe this disorder stems from a negative or traumatic childhood incident involving snow.
(3) Always wear sunglasses if the sun is shining while there is snow on the ground.
Snow reflects ultraviolet radiation causing a condition called snow blindness. Without protective eyewear, the sun's rays that reflect off the snow can burn the cornea.
(4) Thundersnow is a rare, dramatic weather event.
When there is turbulence in the atmosphere, rapid and heavy snowfall is accompanied by thunder and lightning. Thundersnow usually only occurs in certain regions of the United States, like the Great Lakes area and across the northeastern states.
(5) There is a reason why it feels quieter after a big snowfall.
The calming effect of a snowfall is very feel for many, which can make the surrounding environment seem more peaceful. In fact, freshly fallen snow actually absorbs sound waves, so the world the volume is turned down a notch. But if the snow melts and then freezes over, sound waves bounce off the ice and travel further, thus amping up the noise level.
(6) Snowflakes are symmetrical.
If a snowflake could be cut in half, both sides would be completely identical. There is a scientific explanation for this phenomenon. The internal order of the water crystal's molecules determines how they fill predetermined spaces. This process is called crystallization. Kids who make snowflakes by folding a paper in half to create symmetry will now know why.
(7) Snowflakes are not actually white.
The crystals are translucent, but they take on a white appearance when light reflects off of them. Sometimes snow can even take on a blue hue, or in areas where air pollution is high, it can look grey.
(8) Snowflakes are made up of tiny ice crystals.
They form around tiny, microscopic pieces of dirt in the atmosphere. Temperature and humidity determine how big each snowflake becomes. In extremely cold temperatures, simple crystals drop from the sky. But when it is a little warmer, just around the freezing mark, the crystals hang in the air longer and join with other crystals, sometimes upward of 200 joining together to form a singular snowflake.
(9) There are five different types of snowflake formations.
Scientists who study snowflakes generally agree on the following classifications: needles, dendrites, columns, plates, and prisms. There are other, less common classification systems, some of which identify 80 different formations. Most decorations and illustrations of snowflakes are in the dendrite shape. They have six points and beautiful, intricate designs.
(10) The largest snowfall ever recorded in a single season occurred in Washington.
During winter season that spanned 1998 to 1999, 95 feet of snow fell in the Mount Baker Ski Area. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed the record that measured a frosty 1,140 inches of cold powder. Located in Whatcom County, Washington, this popular ski resorts spans 1,000 acres and 10 chair lifts. During a typical season, the resort averages 666 inches of snow.
(11) A snowflake that measured 15 inches holds the Guinness World Record.
Dating all the way back to 1887, a snowflake discovered by a ranch owner supposedly was 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick. It's highly likely that Matt Coleman, who described the flake as "larger than a milkpan", may have observed a cluster rather than a single formation. The fact that no other discovery has come close to this record in almost three centuries seems quite suspect. To put things in perspective, a typical, healthy-sized snowflake is about 2 millimeters. And modern-day physicists state that the largest crystal, supported by photographic evidence, measured 10 millimeters.
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