Quck answer
When snow melts, it turns into liquid water. The water can go in different directions depending on the conditions. If the ground is frozen, the melted snow can turn into runoff and flow over the surface. It can also soak into the ground and become groundwater. In urban areas, melted snow can flow into storm drains and be directed to rivers or the ocean. If the temperature is below freezing, the melted snow can refreeze and turn into ice. Overall, the destination of melted snow depends on factors such as temperature, terrain, and infrastructure.
Lately, we have been experiencing a significant amount of snow in Wonderopolis. We have been enjoying ourselves by engaging in various activities such as sledding, making snow ice cream, playing hockey, ice skating, and building snowmen. Due to the abundance of snow, the population of snowmen in Wonderopolis has reached approximately 24,387!
Although it may be getting crowded in Wonderopolis, we are not concerned. As the weather gets warmer, the number of snowmen will decrease. But where do they go? Continue reading to find out…
Snow, which is the solid form of water, melts when the temperature rises above 32ยบ F. When the Sun shines and warms the Earth, the snow begins to melt and transform into runoff. This runoff can either seep into the ground to nourish plants or flow into bodies of water if the ground is already saturated with water.
Once the snow turns into a liquid as runoff, it enters the water cycle. The water cycle consists of three steps: evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. During evaporation, the Sun heats the water on land and bodies of water, causing it to transform into water vapor. This vapor rises into the atmosphere, cools down, and forms clouds through condensation.
When the clouds become too saturated with water, the water falls back to Earth through precipitation. Depending on the temperature, the water can return as rain, snow, or ice. Once it reaches Earth again, the entire process starts over, which is why it is called the water cycle. It is a continuous and repetitive process!
Try It Out
We hope you enjoyed learning about how snow is recycled by Mother Nature in today’s Wonder of the Day. Keep the learning going by trying out one or more of the following fun activities with a friend or family member:
Is it currently the Winter season where you are? Are there snowflakes covering the ground? If that’s the case, get ready to conduct a simple experiment that will test your mathematical abilities. Take a tape measure and designate an area in the snow in the shape of a square, with each side measuring 10 feet. Before you start the experiment, take a guess about the amount of water you think exists in the 10-foot square of snow. To assist with your estimation, measure the depth of the snow. To determine the amount of water in your square shaped section of snow, excavate a one square foot portion of snow (a square of snow measuring one foot on each side). Take that snow indoors and place it in the bathtub. Make sure you close the drain first! Allow the snow to melt and then utilize a measuring cup from the kitchen to measure the quantity of water in the tub. Multiply your result by 100 to determine the amount of water in the large square you marked outside. How accurate was your initial guess?
Were you aware that you can also recycle snow by yourself? It’s true! When it snows, not only can you engage in activities like sledding, having snowball fights, and building snowmen, but you can also use snow to create delicious treats to share with your friends and family members. One of our favorite treats is Snow Ice Cream. Click on the provided link to access a recipe for snow ice cream. Have fun making this incredibly tasty treat the next time the snowflakes fall!
If there is currently no snow on the ground, don’t worry! Grab a friend or family member and go online to explore these enjoyable science experiments that will increase your knowledge about the transformation of water from a liquid to a solid or gas:
– Creating Your Own Water Cycle
– Ice to Water to Steam
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