Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: paul.fr on 21/03/2007 06:39:27

Title: Too cold to snow!
Post by: paul.fr on 21/03/2007 06:39:27

The pub bore, the guy at work, even that slightly strange uncle, they all come out with one liners that "must" be true.

With the weather in mind, can it be too cold to snow?

Title: Too cold to snow!
Post by: another_someone on 21/03/2007 14:50:59

Clearly, in the narrowest sense, this cannot be true, since it can snow in Antarctica.

What is true is that cold air will hold less moisture, and will thus be less capable for forming the conditions needed to precipitate that moisture.

In particular, you need warm air to form clouds in the first place.  Then when those clouds get somewhere colder, they will drop their payload.  If they get somewhere a little bit colder, they will dump what they have, and by the time they have got to somewhere a lot colder, it is very likely they have a lot less available to dump.  Thus you are most likely to get dumped on by the clouds when you are in a cool area on the edge of a warmer area, than when you are in a cold area with nothing warm nearby (but that is merely probabilistic, since, as I mentioned, even in Antarctica some clouds do get through and snow, but the clouds would have had to travel a long way to get deep into Antarctica).

This is why it does not make sense to say that global warming should lead to more deserts, since warmer climates actually create more rain and snow, and it is colder climes that create more arid conditions.

Title: Too cold to snow!
Post by: neilep on 22/03/2007 00:24:04

It has never snowed in my freezer !!

QED

Glad I could help !  [;)]

Title: Too cold to snow!
Post by: Karen W. on 22/03/2007 01:08:47

I have heard the same thing from people hear. "It's too cold to snow"!

MINE neither!! LOL

Title: Too cold to snow!
Post by: chris on 22/03/2007 01:11:50

Just wondering...why is this in biology / plants?

Chris

Title: Too cold to snow!
Post by: neilep on 22/03/2007 01:40:47

Quote from: chris on 22/03/2007 01:11:50

Just wondering...why is this in biology / plants?

Chris

It is also the Environmental forum too !

( Plant Sciences and Environmental Issues )

Title: Too cold to snow!
Post by: another_someone on 22/03/2007 03:14:27

Quote from: neilep on 22/03/2007 01:40:47

Quote from: chris on 22/03/2007 01:11:50

Just wondering...why is this in biology / plants?

Chris

It is also the Environmental forum too !

( Plant Sciences and Environmental Issues )

Which was why I raised the issue earlier as to why we have mixed plant biology and environmental issues.

Title: Too cold to snow!
Post by: Karen W. on 22/03/2007 03:21:45

YES YOU DID !! I read that!! LOL