Snow (redirected from Snow depth)

snow, precipitation formed by the sublimation of water vapor into solid crystals at temperatures below freezing. Sublimation resulting in the formation of snow takes place about a dust particle, as in the formation of raindrops. Snowflakes form symmetrical (hexagonal) crystals, sometimes matted together if they descend through air warmer than that of the cloud in which they originated. Apparently, no two snow crystals are alike; they differ from each other in size, lacy structure, and surface markings. Snowfall, reduced to its liquid equivalent, is usually included in statistics on rainfall; the factors determining snowfall are similar to those affecting rainfall. On an average, 10 in. (25 cm) of snow is equivalent to 1 in. (2.5 cm) of rain. In the United States the average snowfall is about 28 in. (71 cm) per winter; the record is 1,140 in. (2,896 cm) at Mt. Baker in Washington state during the snow season of 1998–99. Snow that piles up on slopes may suddenly slide downward in an avalanche. A glacier consists of ice that was formed from compacted snow. Snow serves as an insulating blanket, lessening to some extent the extremes of temperature fluctuation to which the soil is subjected, but it also brings about a rapid cooling of the overlying atmosphere, giving rise to polar air masses. Snow lessens loss of water by dormant plants. The sudden melting of snow is a primary cause of floods. Snow necessitates the building of snowsheds over rail lines and highways in certain mountain localities where a heavy fall is likely to impede travel; the use of snowplows to clear sidewalks, streets, and roads; the use of snow fences to prevent drifting over roads; and the use of skis, snowshoes, toboggans, snowmobiles, and sleds for travel. It is a primary factor in the location of winter sports centers and so has great economic value to certain areas. In some ski resorts machines are used to make artificial snow. As in the case of rainfall, snowfall has been produced artificially by introducing dry-ice pellets into supercooled clouds, that is, clouds containing unfrozen water droplets at temperatures below freezing.

---

snow

Solid form of water that crystallizes in the atmosphere and falls to the Earth, covering about 23% of the Earth's surface either permanently or temporarily. Snowflakes are formed by crystals of ice that generally have a hexagonal pattern. Snow cover has a significant effect on climate and on plant, animal, and human life. By increasing the reflection of solar radiation and interfering with the conduction of heat from the ground, it induces a cold climate. The low heat conduction protects small plants from the effects of the lowest winter temperatures; on the other hand, late disappearance of snow in the spring delays the growth of plants.

---

snow

The flickering snow-like spots on a video screen caused by display electronics that are too slow to respond to changing data.

---

snow

1. precipitation from clouds in the form of flakes of ice crystals formed in the upper atmosphere

2. a layer of snowflakes on the ground

3. a fall of such precipitation

4. the random pattern of white spots on a television or radar screen, produced by noise in the receiver and occurring when the signal is weak or absent

5. Slang cocaine

6. See carbon dioxide snow

---

Snow

C(harles) P(ercy), Baron. 1905--80, British novelist and physicist. His novels include the series Strangers and Brothers (1949--70)

---

snow [snō]

(electronics)

Small, random, white spots produced on a television or radar screen by inherent noise signals originating in the receiver.

(meteorology)

The most common form of frozen precipitation, usually flakes of starlike crystals, matted ice needles, or combinations, and often rime-coated.

---

snow

“pure as the driven snow.” [Western Folklore: Misc.]

See : Purity

---

Snow

frozen atmospheric precipitation falling from clouds in the form of flakes or ice crystals; the flakes or crystals are varied in shape but are basically hexagonal plates or hexahedral columns. The diameter of snowflakes varies from fractions of a millimeter to several millimeters. In calm weather at an atmospheric temperature of approximately 0°C, snowflakes may combine upon collision to form large flakes with diameters up to several centimeters. The average weight of individual snowflakes varies from 0.0001 g to 0.003 g; large snowflakes may weigh up to 0.2-0.5 g. At temperate and high latitudes, snow is the usual form of winter precipitation and forms a snow cover. The amount of fallen snow is measured with a precipitation gage. [23–1877–]