snow

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

 

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–]

What does it mean when you dream about snow?

Because water is a natural symbol of emotional states, snow may indicate chilled and unexpressed emotions, either in the dreamer or in someone else. Naturally, a snowy landscape might simply be a part of the setting for dreamers living in the Snow Belt.

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

A type of water vapor that changes directly into crystals of ice flakes when frozen in the upper air. It is called snow flurries if the snow showers for a brief period and the snow is very light. It is called snow grains if the snow falls as small, white, opaque, flat or elongated grains of ice. With snow pellets, the precipitation is in the form of white, opaque, round or conical ice particles with a diameter of about 0.08 to 0.2 in. When on the ground, snow can be dry, wet, or compacted. Dry snow (specific gravity: up to but not including 0.35) can be blown if loose or, if compacted by hand, it will fall apart again upon release. Wet snow (specific gravity: 0.35 up to but not including 0.5), if compacted by hand, will stick together and tend to form a snowball. Compacted snow (specific gravity: 0.5 and over) has been compressed into a solid mass that resists further compression and will hold together or break up into lumps if picked up. On weather charts, snow is represented by the symbol *.

snow

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

See: Purity

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

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Snow

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

snow

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

Snow

(dreams)

Snow symbolizes chilled and unexpressed emotions or emotions that have been repressed for an extended period of time. The snow in your dream suggests that you or someone else is emotionally cold, unresponsive, and indifferent. Clean, white snow may represent innocence, truth, peace, and relaxation. Virgin snow, as you may see it covering a beautiful landscape, may represent new beginnings or a new way of seeing things, and dirty snow may represent guilt. In literary works such as “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” and “For Whom the Bell Tolls, ” snow represents death.