I heard a man at the gas station say that. It doesn't make sense to me.
2007-02-07 22:13:46 · 6 answers · asked by Ellie W 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Snow is the result of moisture in the atmosphere freezing and moisture enters the atmosphere through evapouration - primarily from the seas and oceans.
In sub zero temperatures there is no evapouration so no moisture enters the atmosphere. In very cold places such as the Arctic and the Antarctic the air is very dry and what little snow does fall has been carried thousands of miles.
Further, the way snow crystals form is affected by temperatures. At around freezing point it's more likely to be the large, fluffy snowflakes but in extreme cold it's likely to be hard pellets of snow.
It's not strictly true that it can be too cold to snow but the colder it is the less liklihood of snow.
2007-02-08 01:29:22 · answer #1 · answered by Trevor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Snow forms best in the region of the atmosphere where it is -10 degrees C to -20 degrees C. At these temps, both ice crystals and supercooled water droplets exist, allowing the ice crystals to grow well (called the Bergeron-Findeisen Process). If your atmosphere is below these temps close to the surface, then you just aren't going to get efficient snow production. It could still snow, it will just be small and weak. This is the main reason. Another reason is the colder the atmosphere, the less moisture it tends to have before condensing.
2007-02-08 09:34:49 · answer #2 · answered by mandos_13 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it has to do with how much moisture the air can hold. the colder it is, the less water can be in the air.
remember those really hot and muggy days? this is the opposite situation, when the air can hold much moisture.
this relationship is expressed as "relative humidity" in weather reports. the wikipedia page has a nice graph showing that colder air temperature can hold less water.
good luck!
2007-02-08 06:25:53 · answer #3 · answered by westtexasboy 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I studied meterology and westtexasboy has it bang on. The air hasn't sufficient time to gather as much water vapour and so those beautiful patterned crystals will never form.
2007-02-08 06:39:12 · answer #4 · answered by RobLough 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means the man is crazy.
2007-02-08 06:18:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You won';t get "big fluffy" flakes you get very small crystals. it's not exactly true...... it still snows it's just harder to see!!
2007-02-08 06:20:40 · answer #6 · answered by mdlbldrmatt135 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋