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Snow Flakes
 In
the Flathead Valley we are lucky to be able to
experience “winter water” in the form of snow.
Evaporation from the ocean, lakes, streams, plants,
and even our breath puts water vapor into the air.
When the air is cold enough snow flakes grow from
that water vapor, literally out of “thin air.” Snow
flakes form as crystals, just like diamonds and
other gems and minerals. Flakes can look like
prisms, plates, dendrites, columns, rosettes, stars,
triangles; so many kinds that scientists don’t agree
on how to classify them. Perhaps you have noticed
them on your sleeve, or on the car. As soon as you
pick one up to get a closer look, it’s gone!
Temperature and wind contribute to the endless
variety in the shapes of the crystals, but they all
have a general six-sided shape.
Snow can fall as individual flakes, flakes hooked
together, or large “puff ball” clumps of crystals.
Artificial snow is made by freezing water drops, so
doesn’t have a crystal shape. Snow is less dense
than its liquid counterpart (rain) but varies in its
water content. Dry snow can take up to 100 inches to
melt down to one inch of rain. When you walk on dry
snow you can hear the crunch of ice crystals rubbing
against one another under your feet. When you ski
through it, it blows up as light and fluffy powder
and you feel like you are floating.
 Fresh,
fluffy snow readily absorbs sound waves. It is very
quiet during and just after a snowstorm. Sometimes
it makes you want to whisper! As the snow surface
hardens, sound bounces off and travels clear and
far. All that frozen water provides a blanket of
insulation for the ground. The air above can get
very cold but the snow keeps the ground close to
freezing. This protects plant roots and many small
animals. Up north, the Eskimos make igloos out of it
to stay warm! Snow accumulates all winter, storing
water which will melt in spring and summer. The
mountain snowpack contributes up to 75% of surface
water supplies for our lakes and streams, keeping
them flowing year-round.
While it is accumulating, we can enjoy it by
activities such as snowshoeing, sledding or flake
watching. A simple magnifier will help you see the
crystals better. Children love to make “snow angels”
by lying down and moving their arms to create wings.
We can discover who else has been here by looking at
the footprints or tracks they leave in the snow.
Dog, bird, deer, people!
Indoors, you can make cutout snowflakes like the
ones you see outside. You can try to create “fossil”
snowflakes with superglue, or create ice spikes in
the freezer using distilled water. Check out how at
www.SnowCrystals.com.
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