Let it SNOW!

Brrrrr! Have you ever dreamed of sleeping in an ice castle? Is it true that no two snowflakes are alike? Ever wonder how they make snow for ski resorts? Just how big are those snowplows that clear the airport runways? Here's a look at some fun facts we've found on the Internet. (NOTE: The picture in the upper left is a real snow crystal that fell to earth. This photo was captured by Kenneth G. Libbrecht using a specially designed snowflake photomicroscope.)

Is it true that no two snowflakes are alike? www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/alike/alike.htm Snowflake expert Kenneth Libbrecht writes, "If two identical snowflakes fell, my inquisitive friend, who would know? And can you ever be sure that no two are alike, since you cannot check them all to find out?" He adds, "It's unlikely that any two complex snow crystals, out of all those made over the entire history of the planet, have ever looked completely alike." So a pretty strong "yes." See more of Dr. Libbecht's closeup images of ice crystals at http://www.snowcrystals.com. Some of the images were featured on a stamp by the U.S. Postal Service.

Does it ever snow in Florida? Visit http://www.nsidc.org/snow/facts.html, and you'll learn that practically every location in the United States has had snow, even parts of southern Florida.

What's the biggest snow plow? According to http://www.syracuse.com/weather/snow/stories/index.html the world's biggest snowplow is at the Hancock Airport in Syracuse, New York. It has a 32-foot long steel blade.

Are there real ice castles? Yes! At http://www.snowcastle.net, you'll find information on the SnowCastle of Kemi in Finland. You can stay overnight in the castle for a fee, where you get your own private room, including an artic sleeping bag, breakfast, and a much-needed sauna.

How much water does it take to make snow? A lot! Visit http://www.wxdude.comSnow%20Making.htm and you'll learn that it takes five tankers trucks full of water to put six inches of snow on a football field. The water is pumped through snow guns that shoot out a combination of cold water, compressed air and dust particles. It if is cold enough, you get snow!

Hey Teachers! This column is available as an 8 1/2 x 11-inch handout, in PDF form.

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