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The density and moisture content of powder snow can vary widely; snowfall in coastal regions and areas with higher humidity is usually heavier than a similar depth of snowfall in an arid or continental region. Light, dry (low moisture content, typically 4–7% water content) powder snow is prized by skiers and snowboarders. [38]
When it comes to measuring snow cover on the ground, typically three variables are measured: the snow cover extent (SCE) — the land area covered by snow, snow cover duration (SD) — how long a particular area is covered by snow, and the snow accumulation, often expressed as snow water equivalent (SWE), which expresses how much water the snow ...
Water vapor, the gaseous state of water, is generally invisible to the human eye. [2] Humidity indicates the likelihood for precipitation, dew, or fog to be present. Humidity depends on the temperature and pressure of the system of interest. The same amount of water vapor results in higher relative humidity in cool air than warm air.
This creates an ongoing cycle: While more water evaporates into the warming atmosphere, less falls back to Earth as precipitation. Scientists say this pattern leads to droughts that last longer ...
With humid heat, the moisture in the air can prevent the evaporation of sweat. [21] Regardless of acclimatization, humid heat poses a far greater threat than dry heat; humans cannot carry out physical outdoor activities at any temperature above 32 °C (90 °F) when the ambient humidity is greater than 95%.
Water equivalent of snowfall (HNW) is the snow water equivalent of snowfall, measured for a standard observing period of 24 hours or other period. Snow strength (Σ) whether compressive, tensile, or shear, snow strength can be regarded as the maximum stress snow can withstand without failing or fracturing, expressed in pascals per second, squared.
Last summer, Lake Michigan was 10 degrees above normal, which resulted in the water taking longer to cool down in the winter. At the start of the year, only 3% of the Great Lakes were covered in ice.
Lake-effect snow happens when cold air, which commonly comes from the direction of Canada, passes over warmer water, causing warmth and moisture to transfer into the lowest part of the atmosphere.