Most of the South Shore receives between 150 and 200 cm of snow every year. While this does not compare to the snowiest major city in Canada, St. John’s (~335 cm yearly), snow or the lack thereof drastically impacts the lives of the people and wildlife that call the South Shore home.
But, what is snow?
Snow is particles of ice that have grown large enough in the atmosphere to fall to the ground. The atmosphere holds a lot of water vapour. When it gets cold, this water will freeze and crystallize around small pollen or dust particles in the air.
Why do snowflakes look like that?
Snowflakes are known for their unique, symmetrical, six-sided shape. This shape reflects the chemical structure of water and the way water molecules arrange themselves during crystallization.
Different temperatures result in different patterns. At around -5 °C, snowflakes have long needle-like crystals, whereas at around -15 °C, snowflakes are very flat and plate-like. As snowflakes descend towards the ground, they experience many tiny changes in temperature, leading to shifts in how the water molecules align as they crystallize. However, no two snowflakes have identical journeys, so they each experience ever-so-slightly different conditions. This causes each snowflake to be unique, whether they are in the shape of a prism, a needle, or the iconic snowflake shape you can spot on posts around Lunenburg.
Does snow matter?
While some appreciate a lack of snow, snow’s role in our lives goes beyond aesthetics, playing an important role in the hydrological cycle. Many of our economic and natural systems rely on snowfall being predictable and historically consistent.
Snowless winters can lead to spring droughts as the land expects to receive a sudden rush of snowmelt that will never arrive. However, unexpected heavy snowstorms in areas that are not used to them can lead to flooding. Industries like agriculture and even hydroelectricity can suffer when snowfall strays from what is expected.
Snow is also an excellent insulator — a property that many animals use to survive winters. Whether they hibernate or not, many animals burrow into the snow to get away from the frigid air. Without the snowpack, cold days can be impossible to escape from.
The reflective quality of snow also impacts Earth on a global scale. Fresh snow can reflect 95% of the sunlight it receives back into space, keeping the Earth cool. This is also why snowy winter nights often seem less dark than snowless ones. Drastic changes in snow cover can impact local, and even global, climate.
Learn more about snow at https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/snow.Lia Robles Gil is a science communicator who has lived across Canada but currently resides in Lunenburg. You can find them on Instagram and Bluesky @liaroblesgil.
