More Fun Snowy Science Experiments

The December holiday season means many of us have kids to entertain while they're out of school. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, where December also means cold temperatures, we talked on a previous episode about fun science experiments to do like freezing bubbles, deflating balloons without letting the air out, and making maple syrup candy. But you can also do some fun science experiments with the snow itself, including making your own. And that's a bonus if your kids can’t get enough of Frozen II.  

The study of snow

Scientists study snow and the role it plays in our ecosystems. Ever heard of watermelon snow? According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, a form of cryophilic (that means cold-loving), freshwater algae found in the Alps gives the snow it lives in a pinkish hue. The Taylor Glacier in Antarctica is home to Blood Falls, so named for its blood-red snow. Saltwater from an ancient reservoir underneath the glacier seeps out, and when it hits the air, the iron-rich water oxidizes, giving it a deep red color. 

And even though it doesn’t snow everywhere on our planet, snow contains information about global climate conditions. For example, researchers dig deep snow pits in places like Greenland and Antarctica to observe old layers of snow and ice that can tell us about the amount of carbon dioxide that was in the atmosphere when that snow was closer to the surface. Scientists also study snow to understand how to predict snowstorms better 

How to Catch Snowflakes

For something so small, snowflakes have incredibly intricate shapes that always have six sides because the oxygen and hydrogen atoms that make up the water molecules in snow fit together most efficiently in a hexagonal pattern. (Keep that in mind if you want to keep your cut-out paper snowflakes scientifically accurate!)

To get a better look at this detail, you can try catching a few snowflakes to investigate them up close. 

Snowflakes have incredibly intricate shapes that always have six sides because the oxygen and hydrogen atoms that make up the water molecules in snow fit together most efficiently in a hexagonal pattern.

If the snow is fluffy enough, you may be able to catch...

Keep reading on Quick and Dirty Tips