Discovery Express
  • Welcome!
  • Blog
  • Check out our store!
  • 9 Apples Math Game
  • Your questions answered!
  • About

Winter is here to stay! Make winter fun and informative with a daily snow log.

11/15/2014

15 Comments

 
Author: Maddie Van Beek

Winter is officially here in Fargo, North Dakota! The first snow has fallen, and Midwesterners are taking their winter coats and boots out of storage until further notice. Although some people get down on winter weather, we can have fun with snow this winter through different winter science activities! Create a daily snow log to track the kinds of snow you see, the types of snowfall you experience, and the kinds of snow formations you identify! 

Before you start on your activities, let’s learn a little bit more about this fluffy white stuff we call snow. 

Use this website, “All About Snow,” to answer your snow questions! 

All About Snow
How does snow form?

Most of us know that snow cannot form unless it is below freezing temperatures (32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius), but did you know that snow will not form if it is too cold? It’s true! Because colder air holds less water vapor, it is more difficult for snow to form when the temperature is extremely cold. Snow usually does not form below 15 degrees Fahrenheit. 

What kinds of snow are there? 
There is a rumor out there that the Inuit have over 100 words for snow! Although that may be a myth, there really are many words to describe specific types of snow. 

Find out the difference between the four following types of snow! 
  1. Snowflake
Picture
http://th02.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2010/347/0/2/bentley_snowflake_brushes_by_muffet1-d34ssw0.jpg
Picture
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Hoarfrost_reif.jpg
2. Hoarfrost 
3. Graupel
Picture
http://media.komonews.com/images/120226_graupel.jpg
Picture
http://polycrystals.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/snowflakes-made-from-ice-crystals-by-jjschad1.jpg?w=300&h=276
4. Polycrystal 
See if you can identify the different types of snow throughout this winter! Take pictures and keep them in a daily snow log. 

Use this Snowflake Guide to identify specific kinds of snowflakes that you find this winter! 
Snowflake Guide
Picture
http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/class/snowtypes4.jpg
What types of snowfall are there? 

Did you know there is a difference between a blizzard and a snowstorm? A snowstorm requires a large amount of snowfall, while a blizzard is accompanied by violent winds, low visibility, and lasts at least three hours! 

Picture
http://www.fabianvorderegger.com/wp-content/uploads/postimages/31fc6d6951f1c6018716b20b551a977c.jpg
Here is an example of a blizzard. As you can see, it is quite windy!! 
Check out this time lapse of a snowstorm in Arkansas--lots of snow, but not a whole lot of wind. 
What other types of snowfall are there? Identify and describe them! When it snows this winter, record the type of snowfall in your daily snow log. 

What kinds of snow cover are there? 
There are many different kinds of snow cover. In the Midwest, we get seasonal snow every year. Seasonal snow is snow that only stays for one season. 
  • What are the other types of snow cover? 

What types of snow formations have you seen? 
Snow formations include snow cornices, snow crusts, snow dunes, among many others. Have you ever walked carefully on top of crunchy snow, trying not to fall through? The crunchy, frozen snow on top is the snow crust! The snow crust covers the softer snow underneath. 

Snow crust: 
Picture
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TklXy0BST-Y/TyYIR6PQc4I/AAAAAAAAC0A/LqwI7GJcxkE/s1600/Silent+Trails+009.jpg
Define and draw the different kinds of snow formations! 

At the end of this winter, your snow log should be full of interesting snow observations! You can include pictures and drawings along with your descriptions to make your log even more accurate and detailed. Use a snow gauge to add data about snowfall to your daily snow log.  

Track the inches of snow by creating a snow gauge. 

YOU WILL NEED:
  • Scissors or knife
  • 2-liter pop bottle
  • Permanent marker
  • Tape measure or ruler

YOU WILL DO: 
  1. Ask an adult for help! 
  2. Use a scissors or knife to cut the top off of an empty 2-liter pop bottle. Cut at the point where the bottle starts to taper off. Once you cut the top off, your bottle should be a cylinder. 
  3. Pour a few inches of sand into your bottle. This is to weigh your bottle down so it does not blow over. 
  4. Measure your pop bottle from the top of the sand to the top of the bottle. 
  5. Mark each inch on your pop bottle with your permanent marker. 
  6. Go outside and locate a place where your bottle could collect snow. Under a tree would not be a good spot, since the branches may block some of the snowfall. 
  7. Each time it snows, check your bottle and record the number of inches in your daily snow log! 

Figure out the snow water equivalent
Some people assume that ten inches of snow equals about one inch of water. This is not always the case! 
  1. Measure how many inches of snow are in your snow gauge.
  2. Bring your snow gauge inside and let the snow melt into water. 
  3. Measure how many inches of water are now in your snow gauge. 
  4. What is the water-to-snow ratio? For example, if I had 8 inches of snow, and when it melted I had 1 inch of water, the water-to-snow ratio would be 1:8.
  5. If you want to find out the percent, take 1 (inches of water) divided by 8 (inches of snow). 1/8 = 0.125. Multiply your answer by 100 to get the percent. 0.125 x 100 = 12.5%. This means that for the amount of snow you measured, 12.5% of that measurement is the amount of water you measured. 
  6. Do this on a regular basis to track how temperature, wind, and the different kinds of snowfall affect the water-to-snow ratio!
15 Comments
esfileexplorerapkz.info link
9/17/2018 11:04:32 pm

Spot on with this write-up, I truly think this website needs much more consideration. I?ll probably be again to read much more, thanks for that info.

Reply
Sump Pump Installation West Haven link
8/15/2022 03:30:11 pm

Thannks for sharing

Reply
mystical teachings of jesus link
1/14/2023 11:36:52 pm

After study a few of the blog articles in your internet site now, and that i really appreciate your strategy for blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site list and you will be checking back soon. Pls look at my web-site also and figure out what you consider.

Reply
smartcryptoinfo link
1/15/2023 04:09:40 am

We are a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your web site given us with valuable information to work on. You’ve done an impressive job and our entire community will be grateful to you.

Reply
bestbusinessacumen link
1/15/2023 04:17:06 am

Hi, Neat post. There’s a problem with your website in internet explorer, would test this… IE still is the market leader and a big portion of people will miss your fantastic writing because of this problem.

Reply
justonlybusiness link
1/15/2023 04:22:34 am

Really very good information web page. I have to admit that we’re definitely warm the idea

Reply
Clinica dentale in Albania link
1/15/2023 05:00:25 am

Nice post. I be taught one thing more challenging on totally different blogs everyday. It will all the time be stimulating to learn content from other writers and apply slightly one thing from their store. I’d desire to use some with the content on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a hyperlink on your net blog. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
generalwebsurfer link
1/15/2023 05:03:18 am

The digital cigarette makes use of a battery and a small heating element the vaporize the e-liquid. This vapor can then be inhaled and exhaled

Reply
generalabout link
1/15/2023 05:08:37 am

Would love to always get updated great site ! .

Reply
boyntech link
1/15/2023 05:15:01 am

Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive learn anything like this before. So good to search out someone with some authentic ideas on this subject. realy thank you for beginning this up. this web site is one thing that’s needed on the web, someone with somewhat originality. useful job for bringing something new to the internet!

Reply
healthinessy link
1/15/2023 05:21:30 am

Hello .finaly I found what I was looking for how did you guys found this information??thank you for your article I found it on Google And I bookmarked it . I’ll share. Please send me updates thank you and have a nice day

Reply
betterpetlife link
1/15/2023 05:26:26 am

Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after checking through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely glad I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back frequently!

Reply
how to spend 1 week in basque country link
1/16/2023 06:45:50 am

very good post, i definitely love this excellent website, keep on it

Reply
ac link
4/12/2023 08:12:54 pm

These activities will keep kids and even adults busy with the best things to do in the cold season.

Reply
Corel DRAW Crack Download link
6/3/2023 04:54:01 am

Good one well done keeep it upp

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Follow us on Pinterest!
    Picture
    Check out our new game for math education, grades 1-7!

    Archives

    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    Categories

    All
    Age 10 12
    Age 12 14
    Age 14 16
    Age 16+
    Age 8 10
    Anatomy/Physiology
    Biology
    Chemistry
    Engineering
    Food Science
    Geology/Earth Science
    Health Science
    Math
    Microbiology
    Physics
    Plant Science
    Psychology
    Weather Science

Proudly powered by Weebly