New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

The science behind snow's serenity

Date:
January 21, 2016
Source:
University of Kentucky
Summary:
A thick blanket of snow covering streets, walkways and rooftops can cause some major stress, but it can also be calming. The world seems quieter and it's not just because people are hibernating inside.
Share:
FULL STORY

A thick blanket of snow covering streets, walkways and rooftops can cause some major stress, but it can also be sort of calming, right? Think about it -- when it snows, the world gets quieter.

Is it because people dare not to venture outside? That could be part of it. But there's actually some science behind snow's serenity.

"Snow is a pretty good sound absorber," said David Herrin, an associate professor in the UK College of Engineering who studies acoustics.

Herrin said snow absorbs sound a lot like many commercial sound absorbing materials do, such as fibers and foams used in cars, HVAC systems, and other equipment.

Sound absorption is measured on a scale between 0 and 1.

"In the audible range, a couple inches of snow is roughly around 0.6 or 60 percent absorbing on average," Herrin said. "Snow is porous, in some ways like a commercial sound absorbing foam."

Even during a snowfall, when flakes hit everything in their path, they barely make a sound, especially compared to rainfall. That's because snowflakes are not very dense and tend to drift to the ground.

"Rain drops, on the other hand, fall at higher velocities and strike the pavement. You are hearing impact noise," Herrin said. "With snow, the impact force is much less partly due to the reduced speed."

Of course, a winter storm with wind and sleet can cause many to forget snow's own serenity.


Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Kentucky. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Cite This Page:

University of Kentucky. "The science behind snow's serenity." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 January 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160121150503.htm>.
University of Kentucky. (2016, January 21). The science behind snow's serenity. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160121150503.htm
University of Kentucky. "The science behind snow's serenity." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160121150503.htm (accessed March 18, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES