I've watched the snow would disappear at this time of year for years. The past two years I've had lots of time sitting in front of the window to just watch. At the moment it's disappearing steadily as we have day after day that creeps up above the freezing line.
We all say the snow is 'melting', but in fact I hardly ever see it melting on the surface. If there's a creek or ditch nearby you might see the snow melt along the edge and run away in a trickle, but I don't see this when I look out the window. I still just see a sheet of white, although it's getting thinner and thinner. So I've been trying to educate myself and I start from the fact that 'melting' is the change from a solid state (snow) to a liquid state (water).
In fact much of the snow doesn't disappear this way, it vanishes directly into the atmosphere, changing from a solid state (snow) to a gaseous state (water vapour) without ever becoming liquid. You can't see this happening, but you can see that the snow is disappearing steadily, and sometimes fast depending on the sunshine and temperatures. The snowpack gets thinner and thinner; green patches of grass appear, and the sidewalks are bare. This, I've learned is actually the process of 'sublimation' a word that we don't use often, but we should use instead of saying that the snow is 'melting'.
The snow is certainly sublimating around here these days. The resulting water vapour has even led to foggy mornings and cancelled school buses.
As I explore the process further though, I learn that the snow actually is melting at the same time. It's melting at the level of individual snow crystals, and the water is trickling down through the snowpack to recharge the groundwater. Maybe you could see this if you got out on your hands and knees with a magnifying glass, but I certainly don't see it.
As both these processes happen the entire structure of the snowpack changes. Snow crystals may start out as light and fluffy, but as they melt or partially melt they recrystallize in the lower temperatures overnight and end up smaller, icier and more densely packed. Squirrels walk across the surface of this snowpack instead of disappearing in the white fluff. I've experienced a time or two when I could walk across the surface of the snow without breaking through, abandoned my snowshoes, and just walked on foot.
So when we talk of snow 'melting', it's actually disappearing in both directions, 'melting' downwards into the ground, and 'sublimating' upwards into the atmosphere. You don't actually see much of either process happening, but my impression is that more disappears into the atmosphere than melts into the groundwater.
What we need is a new word to express both of these processes happening at the same time. Any suggestions?
How about we say it's just "Disappearing". Either way we're looking forward to a more colourful environment.
ReplyDeleteBe Safe and Enjoy the coming Spring.
It's about time.
I remember when both my mother an H (my dear wife) would hang laundry out to dry on a very cold day, the sheets and clothing would quickly freeze solid but would be perfectly dry a few hours later. Sublimation at work.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing some bare ground, other than the mud hole we call our road. I can hardly see out my windows for snow banks. On the other hand, I hear dripping. That's good right?
ReplyDeleteSublimation. That's a word I learned when I studied Geography in the sixth-form at school. I don't think I've used it since, though I immediately knew what you were referring to. A dry wind will help the process along and it was understood by our ancestors; they didn't know the word "sublimation" but a traditional song begins "The snows they melt the soonest when the wind begins to sing..."
ReplyDeleteI actually like the word "sublimation" to describe the snowmelt disappearing. Interesting post, and many of your commenters have given thoughtful remarks. :-)
ReplyDeleteSublimation is a term I do remember from geography.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the explanation! You are correct in your observations. Thanks for the new word!
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. Here the weather changes so fast the snow seems to just disappear!
ReplyDeleteInteresting post Stew. Being realistic as this is still early March, I know Mother Nature can deliver more snow. I am hopeful that when we return to Ontario April 4th, that the snow is gone and we can get in at "the Ridge" soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the lesson on sublimation. We 'should' try and use it more often now that we (I) know what it means. Sublimelting? Hmm, that's a mouthful! haha
ReplyDeleteAs long as it goes away by April, as Bill says, we are happy!
I think I sort of knew this in the back of my mind, but I am happy to see you remind me through what you are seeing in your area. We had so little snow to melt this year that I wonder if we will ever have a white winter again.
ReplyDeleteThat word has a lovely sound as you say it out loud, almost singing in the joy as you know warmer days are coming. Then, Phew!!! down here we have gone from scorching to quite cold in 2 days. 10C out in the porch this morning, colder down south . A new word, I will ponder on that one.Thanks for all the wonderful explanations, is this why you can hear trickling water way down below the top level, that stays firmer? Nature gives us so much delight.
ReplyDeleteThere seemed to be a lot of that Submeltlimating going on today as well.
ReplyDelete