Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Snow On the Mountain, Run Boys, Run


Did someone say SNOW? And COLD! In honor of our horrific weather, I'm repeating this informative and eye-opening account from an older post, giving a brief description of the birth of a snowflake. Many snowflakes, to be perfectly honest.

Snowflake formation begins when water vapor condenses on microscopic dust grains. Each snowflake's unique structure is caused by chemical reactions and everchanging temperatures.

Snow actually rises before it falls. As a droplet of water vapor rises higher, it freezes into a six-sided crystal. Because ice forms fastest around the edges, cavities form. Faster growth on corners causes branches to sprout, and cavities create interior lines. As the flake rises, temperatures get colder. At 10.4 degrees Farenheit, branches are wide. At 8.6 degrees, new growth is narrower. When the snowflake grows heavy enough to overcome the force of rising air, it falls. As the snowflake falls, warmer temperatures cause more side branches to sprout with longer and narrower tips. Hence, snow.

Some of us waited until many, many of the weighty formations plummeted to earth, then out we went for a rare frozen frolic.

At least one Mr. Possum found the lure of the soft white stuff irresistable, and trotted out for a brief stroll.


Possum in the Snow
~
Possum has a snowflake stuck to his nose.
His fur keeps him warm when the cold wind blows.
He's on his way home for tea and puddin'.
I asked him to come to my house, but he wouldn'.

9 comments:

possum said...

My resident possum came out last night for a snicker snack... She makes the strangest snickering sound when she is nibbling up the Boy's crunchies... It was cold and icy, but she has learned that I now have a heated water dish, and a deicer in the birdbath. I think she will hand out here a while longer.

Ramey Channell said...

I love that little happy crunchy sound that the possums make when they're eating! Your heated water dish sounds like a great idea! I'll have to see if I can locate one. The snow is knee-deep-to-a-possum here.

JD Atlanta said...

Possums + Science Lessons = great fun!

Joanne Cage said...

(The word verification word is "orter.") I think everyone orter keep a heated water dish for the possums and other people.

Ramey Channell said...

JD - What more could you ask!
And Joanne, I agree totally. Got to get me one of those. I orter had one a long time ago.

Gretchen said...

Thank you so much for visiting my blog! I think Jack Russel’s have a lot more energy than I do (and I wish I had that much energy) but I do share your Gretchen’s love of kitties and am known by friends as being kinda nutty sometimes LOL!

I had a young raccoon visit my roof the other evening, making quite a racket. I guess it was warm in the corner by the vent. After finding out what caused all the noise, I said "carry on!"

Susan @ Blackberry Creek said...

I think the lyric is "fire on the mountain, run boys run." But then you probably know that.

Susan @ Blackberry Creek said...

My possum has moved on, thank God. I believe he didn't appreciate my doggies.

Ramey Channell said...

That was such a lovely possum. I believe he was trying to adopt you. I guess he just couldn't settle in with all that canine interference.