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How does snow pack?

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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,196
How does snow pack? If it snows 4 feet in the course of 2 days (which happens out west time to time) how much coverage does the resort gain? (After its skied off) Obviously they don't gain 4 feet of coverage. I know theres some science to it that'll be a little unexplainable, but what have you guys noticed/know?
10 years ago
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shin-bang
Posts: 4106 - Karma: 7,039
http://m.quickmeme.com/img/a7/a7b108e8dca865d2972094197beaa7fedadf0c15f5298fd3f4aea36d2cbf1924.jpg
10 years ago
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shin-bang
Posts: 4106 - Karma: 7,039
You gotta be kidding me, it didn't work the first time
10 years ago
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shin-bang
Posts: 4106 - Karma: 7,039
Going for the triple
10 years ago
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airplaneface
Posts: 219 - Karma: 685
Hydrogen Bonding?
10 years ago
2 0
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supercooladin
Posts: 197 - Karma: 944
I feel like you guys make threads on NS just to have conversations with eachother lol
10 years ago
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,196
supercooladinI feel like you guys make threads on NS just to have conversations with eachother lol


No I'm seriously wondering. Does like 2 feet of snow=6 inches of coverage when packed down? (That was an example)
10 years ago
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supercooladin
Posts: 197 - Karma: 944
.lenconNo I'm seriously wondering. Does like 2 feet of snow=6 inches of coverage when packed down? (That was an example)


depends how heavy/ wet the snow (what temp was it formed at) /thread
10 years ago
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shin-bang
Posts: 4106 - Karma: 7,039
supercooladinI feel like you guys make threads on NS just to have conversations with eachother lol


Nah, i actually derived this in class today to find out how much snow fall = coverage - /thread ya see if you take the du/dx of the cos(let's just say 2x^2 feet of snow it's the -sin(u)du which in this case u equals 2x squared feet of snow and du = 2 days therfore, equals the amount of snow that's left over after. Boom. Shinbang the calculus wizard
10 years ago
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shin-bang
Posts: 4106 - Karma: 7,039
shin-bangNah, i actually derived this in class today to find out how much snow fall = coverage - /thread ya see if you take the du/dx of the cos(let's just say 2x^2 feet of snow it's the -sin(u)du which in this case u equals 2x squared feet of snow and du = 2 days therfore, equals the amount of snow that's left over after. Boom. Shinbang the calculus wizard


Sorry I had a major typo, (du) should be 4x
10 years ago
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gnarballsianm
Posts: 621 - Karma: 703
most resorts will have a zone at the top and bottom where they will record the annual snow fall. So packed down snow fall i guess never gets recorded.

Does that answer the question?
10 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52730 - Karma: 175,379
It really all depends on the type of snow. Heavier wet snow is more dense and leaves you with more base, also will freeze up easier and really hold. Very light dry powder will pack down to very little snow once it's skied down or groomed and through it leaves a nice surface, it won't hold up as well.

If that's what you were asking?
10 years ago
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,196
gnarballsianmmost resorts will have a zone at the top and bottom where they will record the annual snow fall. So packed down snow fall i guess never gets recorded.

Does that answer the question?


theabortionatorIt really all depends on the type of snow. Heavier wet snow is more dense and leaves you with more base, also will freeze up easier and really hold. Very light dry powder will pack down to very little snow once it's skied down or groomed and through it leaves a nice surface, it won't hold up as well.

If that's what you were asking?


Yeah both of these were very helpful. I knew it would depend on snow type, weight, temp, and all those things but I guess it's pretty complicated. k+ to you guys
10 years ago
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stinky_cheese
Posts: 1221 - Karma: 5,176
supercooladinI feel like you guys make threads on NS just to have conversations with eachother lol


i agree, bfish will be in here shortly
10 years ago
1 1
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sellinger
Posts: 591 - Karma: 485
Gravity has a bigger affect than most people would think. The combination of, gravity, type of snow, skiing over it and packing it down, will all result in different variations of the mass of a ski base.
10 years ago
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Zurg
Posts: 1532 - Karma: 5,182
stinky_petei agree, bfish will be in here shortly


fraud
10 years ago
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VD.
Posts: 4054 - Karma: 4,565
Fresh snow is ~70% air if that explains...
10 years ago
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,196
VD.Fresh snow is ~70% air if that explains...


That actually does help, thank you Sir
10 years ago
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pow_pow~
Posts: 1429 - Karma: 1,804
sellingerGravity has a bigger affect than most people would think. The combination of, gravity, type of snow, skiing over it and packing it down, will all result in different variations of the mass of a ski base.


i would tend to disagree on the gravity bit. if the temps stay the same you can find fresh snow weeks after it last snowed out in the back country or wherever
10 years ago
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Big_Mtn
Posts: 551 - Karma: 1,647
Look at a close up of a snowflake. When they fall the little arms on them support the weight of the snow on top of them. Picture a bunch of fresh snow as a structure like scaffolding. Over time the snowflakes get damaged and the structure collapses. I hope that makes sense.
10 years ago
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