Seasonal snow can have a dramatic effect on our daily lives. Unexpected dumps can freeze entire communities in their tracks, cause untimely deaths, and offer spontaneous freedom from daily routines when they are disrupted by “snow days.” It’s also the focus of a multitude of outdoor sports and the inspiration for some of our favorite recreational gear.
But what about its importance in nature? Snow has a variety of functions in the natural world that promote the processes which keep our planet in balance. Let’s take a look at the importance of snow in the ecosystem.
What is Snow?
Snow has one simple ingredient: H2O, or water. Flakes begin to take shape when the atmospheric temperature (not the ground temperature) is at or below freezing. Snowflakes develop as water droplets in the atmosphere form ice crystals and stick together as they fall down to Earth. Even if the ground is warmer than the air, snow can still occur, and potentially more often in this case. Warm air close to the ground holds more water vapor, making bigger snowflakes and causing heavier snowfalls.
Critical Climate Control and Water Supply
Water is critical for all species on Earth. However, the importance of snow within our climate system is often not given much thought. Snow cover regulates not only the temperature of the entire globe but smaller, regional patterns as well. The cooling effect of a strong snowpack combined with warming spring soils influences summer rains and their duration.
The importance of snow to our fresh water supply cannot be denied. We depend on large amounts of snow to hold our water in reserve like a bank, releasing it slowly as it melts when it is most needed. As climate chaos increases, warmer temperatures may cause more rain than the snow that has occurred in previous years, thereby negatively impacting our freshwater reserves. A reduction in snowfall due to warmer weather may only exacerbate the situation, causing more frequent or earlier melting each subsequent year.
All of this snowpack and temperature fluctuation would mean that some of our favorite winter pastimes, like skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling could shift seasons or cease to be available in some areas at all. It may even be enough to compel you to make small lifestyle adjustments, like carpooling to work to reduce gas emissions into the atmosphere, and therefore, your impact on the environment. The importance of snow to our planet’s health and longevity must not be understated!
Featured Image from Claudio Pantoni/Unsplash
