• Question: Why does it snow?

    Asked by alistairh to Emma, Jimmy, Janet, Niall, Simon on 13 Mar 2013.
    • Photo: James Holloway

      James Holloway answered on 13 Mar 2013:

      Its all about crystal formation.

      If you have cold air with moisture in it then tiny ice crystals form. As these collide they stick together and slowly build up a snow flake. this only happens in certain conditions though (near freezing temperature) as colder temperatures with rush the process and make hail.

      Its snowing out the window right now!

    • Photo: Simon Park

      Simon Park answered on 14 Mar 2013:

      Bacteria high up in the atmosphere can cause some snow to form. They are able to initiate ice crystalization which is needed to make snow. They’re called ice-nucleating bacteria.

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