Quiet of Snowy Mornings

Function

Accumulated snow has the ability to dampen sound. If you look at snow under a microscope, you’ll see that each flake is a crystal. It is thought that sound is absorbed by the small gaps between crystals; depending on conditions, as much as 80% of noise may be absorbed. Fresh snow is particularly potent at absorbing sound waves. For the first few hours after snow falls, people’s ears can detect the difference in the sound of their surroundings. However, as the temperature changes throughout the day, the snow melts and refreezes, the snow hardens and the gap between the crystals fills in, decreasing the snow’s ability to muffle sound. However, snow’s surprising ability to absorb sound may not be entirely due to air in the gap between crystals, but may also be connected to the crystals’ mysterious shape.

Functional Classification

Resouce/Energy/Information Collection & Storage:
Silencing

Environmental Solution Classification

Related Literature

Krouse J., “Sound and snow”, SOUND AND VIBRATION 37 (12): 14-17 DEC 2003

Technical Application

Products and Services

Type of Business

Proposals of Applied Technology

Many objects around us, like electrical appliances and cars, produce unwanted noise. We have devised a number of ways to lessen or eliminate that noise. However, snow’s astounding ability to absorb such a high proportion of sound may contain hints for more effective sound-dampening technology in the future.

Proposals of Applied Industry

Related Life Style